Let’s zoom in. The bottlenose dolphin—the star of Flipper and every beachside postcard—is the ultimate global citizen. You’ll find them in coastal bays, open oceans, and even harbors from California to the Canary Islands. They’re the extroverts of the dolphin world, often hanging out near humans.
Meanwhile, the orca (yes, it’s a dolphin) lives everywhere from the Arctic to Antarctica. They’re the largest members of the dolphin family, and their black-and-white markings are a giveaway. Fun fact: orcas are so adaptable that some populations eat fish, while others hunt seals and even whales—talk menu flexibility.
Shallow Waters and Deep Dives
Most dolphins prefer the continental shelf—that underwater ledge where the ocean is less than 650 feet deep. Here, sunlight warms the water, and fish are plentiful. The spinner dolphin uses shallow lagoons to rest during the day, then heads to deeper waters at night to hunt.
But some dolphins are deep-sea adventurers. The Risso’s dolphin is a scarred, mysterious creature that dives to 1,000 feet to feast on squid. Their faces look like they’ve been in a bar fight—each scratch tells a story of encounters with deep-sea tentacles. Imagine that as your daily commute.
