Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops aduncus
Sighting evidence at Zirku Island, Abu Dhabi
Photo: טל שמע · CC BY-SA
Pods of 10 to 30 individuals frequent the offshore waters around Zirku from November through April, often bow-riding dive boats and occasionally descending to investigate divers on the reef. The Gulf population is an important regional community that feeds on the same reef fish schools that attract sharks and trevally to the site. Encounters can last 20 minutes or more when the animals are in an exploratory mood, making Zirku one of the most reliable spots for in-water dolphin interaction in Abu Dhabi.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.