How long are dolphins pregnant?

Bottlenose dolphins are pregnant for about 12 months. The single calf is often born tail-first at the end of the gestation period and ranges from 39 to 53 inches in length and weighs 22 to 44 pounds.

Female dolphins may give birth every two years, though the average interval is three years. Baby dolphins are born throughout the year worldwide, with peak birth months varying by geographical location. The mother dolphin nurses her calf near the surface of the water for up to 18 months after birth. The young dolphin then stays with the mother for six years, by which time it has garnered the skills needed for hunting and surviving,