Bottlenose whale is a large, deep-diving toothed whale. There are two species (kinds) of bottlenose whales: the northern and the southern. The northern bottlenose whale lives in the North Atlantic Ocean. The southern bottlenose whale lives in the Southern Ocean.
Northern and southern bottlenose whales share a similar appearance. But northern bottlenose whales seem to grow somewhat larger. Males can reach over 30 feet (9 meters) in length and can weigh over 8 tons (7 metric tons). Both species have a domed forehead and a prominent beak. The massive foreheads of adult male northern bottlenose whales are almost squared off at the front. The two species are slightly different in color. The southern bottlenose whale is a pale tan color, and the northern bottlenose whale is brown to gray.
Bottlenose whales dive to depths of about 2,600 to 5,000 feet (800 to 1,500 meters). They dive deep to feed mainly on squid, shrimp, and other invertebrates (animals without backbones), as well as deepwater fish. Female bottlenose whales first give birth at about 10 years of age, producing a single calf every two or more years. Bottlenose whales can live at least 37 years.
Northern bottlenose whales were a major target of commercial whaling from the second half of the 1800’s to the 1970’s. Whalers took advantage of a peculiar habit these whales have of approaching a slow or unmoving boat as though curious. This habit made the whales easy to capture. In addition, bottlenose whales are reluctant to abandon wounded companions, helping whalers to take several individuals at once. Whalers killed more than 65,000 northern bottlenose whales before the species received international legal protection in the early 1970’s. Southern bottlenose whales have never been subject to significant whaling.
