Escursioni nel Santuario dei Cetacei in Liguria | Whalewatching nel Mediterraneo | Birdwatching nel Golfo Ligure Tursiope (Tursiops truncatus)

The Bottlenose dolphin is the best known dolphin both by scientists, as it can live and reproduce in captivity, and by the public, for being made famous by the film Flipper. Flipper is the English name of the pectoral fins, the front limbs of cetaceans.

The maximum size of the animal is about 4 meters. The muzzle is characteristic as it has a clearly visible rostrum. The coloration of the back is gray, while the ventral area is light. The dorsal fin is located in the center of the animal and is high. It is a predominantly coastal species, which prefers shallow waters.

It generally lives in herds, but single individuals may occasionally be seen. They are excellent swimmers and are able to make very high and acrobatic jumps. They live approximately 35 years.

Sightings of bottlenose dolphins carried out by the boats of the Liguria Via Mare Consortium:

2022:  3 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 77 outings

2021:  1 herd of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 55 outings

2020: 6 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 35 outings

2019: 3 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 33 outings

2018: 7 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 50 outings

2017: 6 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 39 outings

2016: 12 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 53 outings

2015: 6 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 43 outings

2014: 6 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 48 outings

2013: 1 herd of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 55 outings

2012: 3 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 47 outings

2011 (data referring to the April-June period only): 4 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 20 outings

2010: 4 herds of bottlenose dolphins sighted in 83 outings

To view the complete list of sightings click here.

Look at the photos of the bottlenose dolphins spotted during our outings.