How long do bottlenose dolphins live?

Male bottlenose dolphins live an average of between 40 and 45 years, while females can live over 50 years. Females reproduce every 3 to 6 years after they reach sexual maturity between the ages of 5 and 10.

Male bottlenose dolphins do not reach sexual maturity until they are between 8 and 13 years old, and they do not actually start reproducing until they are around 20 years old. Females lactate for around 18 months after birth, which imposes a significant metabolic burden on them, and they are the primary caregivers of their young. All the females in a group of bottlenose dolphins work together to raise their offspring.