Bottlenose Dolphins in Costa Rica

A bottlenose dolphin in Panama.

Many people believe that Costa Rica is known as the dolphin capital of the world. The reason for this is obvious considering the gorgeous Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The place has a marvelous view of sea life for scuba diving and has fast become a popular tourist spot famous all over the world. It is true that this specific specie of dolphin is found exclusively in the Pacific waters of Costa Rica. The places these dolphins reside in range from California (Southern side) to Santiago, Chile. Along with bottlenose dolphins, some other types can also be found in the coasts of Costa Rica. These species are named ‘rough tooth’ and ‘spotted dolphins’. Just like other animals that migrate to different places because of changing seasons, dolphins also change waters according to the climate. In the Pacific waters of Costa Rica, these dolphins are found from March to December but are spotted less in the rest of the two months. Fully grown dolphins are from 1.75 - 3.6 m long in length and their weight ranges from 150 - 650 kg.

Places to Observe Bottlenose Dolphins in Costa Rica

Santa Rosa National Park is widely known for being one of the homes of bottlenose dolphins in the Pacific area of Costa Rica. Tourists and sea life enthusiasts travel from all over the world to take in the sights of these dolphins playing in the waters of the ocean. Cocos Island National Park is also recognized as one of the places frequented by bottlenose dolphins. There are different marine parks situated in Costa Rica that offer breathtaking views of these dolphins and their new babies. Children and adults alike can use this opportunity to observe the dolphin species and how they interact with their young. Some areas in Costa Rica host waters where these dolphins live year round. They make it their home and stay there for as long as possible. Corcovado National Park has also become a home for bottlenose dolphins and is known as a tourist spot in Panama. Certain places in Colombia have also been specified as one of the places where bottlenose dolphins have been sighted.

Description and Biology of Bottlenose Dolphins

As is obvious from looking at the physical characteristics of the bottlenose dolphins, their name originates from the shape of their beaks. It has a long and gracefully beautiful line to it which resembles the silhouette of a bottle; hence the name bottlenose dolphin. Another distinct feature these dolphins have is their high and gently rounded foreheads which give them an even more graceful look. The general color of their bodies ranges from a very deep and dark blue to a slate gray. The underside of their body is a very pale color, a soft and glowing white. The tip of the bottlenose dolphin’s nose is also touched with the same whitish color. The dolphin has delicate flippers which are small in size and the edges are ringed with a darker color than the rest of the body. The dorsal fin is slightly bigger but again in comparison with other dolphins, moderate in size. Certain studies and researches suggest that the average number of teeth a bottlenose dolphin possesses is 52. The teeth usually have a length of 1 centimeter.

A video of Bottlenose Dolphins in Costa Rica
http://youtu.be/TXbcJNI8ups
References

http://www.southernexplorations.com/adventure-travel-information/travel-articles/whale-watching-tours/dolphins-costa-rica.htm

http://www.anywherecostarica.com/flora-fauna/sea-mammal/bottle-nosed-dolphin

Eisenberg, John. Mammals of the Neotropics, Vol. 1. The University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 1989.

Janzen, Daniel H. Costa Rican Natural History. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983.

Saenz, Joel C., Grace Wong, and Eduardo Carrillo. Ballenas y delfines de America Central. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad. Costa Rica, 2004.

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