Common Bottle-nose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus

Bottle-nosed Dolphins photographed by Steve Mirick on the 2001 Hydrographers Canyon trip.
 

Two populations of Common Bottle-nosed Dolphins are recognized. The coastal population is well known by its representation as "Flipper" of television fame. They  performin dolphin shows and are exploited in "swim with" programs.  Pelagic birders are more likely to encounter the offshore Bottle-nosed Dolphin on continental shelf edge trips.

Bottle-nosed Dolphins are a combination of gray tones lighter on the underside and darker on the upper part of the body.  They have a distinct medium-sized beak.

Behavior

Behavior is well studied because the dolphins have been kept in captivity since 1930.  Female pods with young of both sexes are known along with pods composed of young males. Pods usually consist of up to 10 animals with offshore pods slightly larger. Extensive cooperation among pod members. 

They jump and ride bow waves.

This is an inshore Bottle-nosed Dolphin photographed in the Texas coastal waterway by David Berg on a Bill Drummond trip. Passengers on the boat could distinctly hear the communication clicks between the dolphins.