Fact Sheet
Dolphin
Dolphin, © Kristian Sekulic / iStockphoto
Dolphin, Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Fast Facts

Size: The familiar bottlenose dolphin is around 8 feet (2.5m) long and weighs between 440-660 lbs (200-300kg).
Because the forty species of dolphins are so diverse, they range in size. The smallest of the dolphin species, Maui's Dolphin, is around 4 feet (1.2m) long and weighs around 90 lbs (40 kg). The largest dolphin species is the orca, or killer whale. Male orcas grow to about 25 feet in length and weigh about 19,000 pounds.

Lifespan: Most dolphins live long lives. The bottlenose dolphin can live over 40 years, and the orca can live to be 70 or 80!

Range Map
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Protection Status
Endangered Species Act: Endangered
CITES: Appendix I

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