Bottlenose dolphins are aquatic mammals in the genus Tursiops. They are common, cosmopolitan members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. There are three species: the common bottlenose dolphin, the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, and Tamanend's bottlenose dolphin. Bottlenose dolphins inhabit warm and temperate seas worldwide, being found everywhere except for the Arctic and Antarctic Circle regions.
Numerous investigations of bottlenose dolphin intelligence have been conducted, examining mimicry, use of artificial language, object categorization, and self-recognition. They can use tools and transmit cultural knowledge from generation to generation, and their considerable intelligence has driven interaction with humans. In some areas, they cooperate with local fishermen by driving fish into their and eating the fish that escape.
Wild Dolphins have even been known to save people lost at sea, and even protect them from sharks.