Our Dolphins

Alfonz

Alfonz, an adult male Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, was one of the first dolphins born at DPMMR on July 25, 1993. He inherited his pink belly from his father, Fonzie, a trait he continues to pass on to his own sons, Tug and Jett. Alfonz exhibits a very round, yellowish rostrum and is easily identified by a white scar on the leading edge of his dorsal fin. Born in 1993, he is our oldest adult male and one of the largest dolphins in our population.

Alfonz generally exhibits a very mellow personality, but has been known to show off in more ways than one! He proudly demonstrates a multitude of aerial behaviors, and can often be found inventing novel behaviors all on his own. Alfonz understands the cognitive concept of “Create,” in which he can offer any behavior. This appears to be Alfonz’s favorite behavior, and he is known to start “Creating” in sessions whenever he pleases! He is often the first to participate in our daily enrichment, and during a study on dolphin problem solving, Alfonz’s cooperative nature and focus demonstrated to staff scientists that bottlenose dolphins can cooperate to solve tasks. It doesn't take anyone long to find that Alfonz is truly one of a kind.

Baby-Bit

Baby-bit, or BB for short, is our subadult female at DPMMR. Born on September 13th, 2011, this remarkably bold and spunky dolphin is full of personality! BB has grown into quite the independent young lady, but does enjoy spending time with the rest of her pod. When she isn’t fishing for minnows or snapper, BB spends time ”babysitting” her younger brother or observing her mom's parenting styles. BB is quick to study and mimic what the older dolphins are doing. Baby-bit is incredibly intelligent and soaks up everything she can like a sponge. Her favorite games involve throwing toy balls or sea grass around her lagoon. BB’s young energy is prevalent in sessions with guests and trainers. She has been described as our fastest dolphin and really enjoys learning high-energy behaviors. She is quite the athlete!

Bob

Named after the reggae singer, Bob Marley, Bob is a laid-back dolphin with a gentle demeanor. Bob's dark gray color, prominent lower jaw, massive length, and tall dorsal fin are his most prominent identifying characteristics. Nicknamed Bob-O by his trainers, Bob is known for his special "scream" vocalization and his exuberance and excitability during guest interactions. As the alpha male of DPMMR, he has fathered 4 calves and takes pride in paternal investment. His tranquil nature is evident during bonding moments with his offspring. However, Bob can easily be described as a "man of action" and typically enjoys fast-paced sessions with his trainers and learning new behaviors! Bob is also a testament to the world-class veterinary care we provide the animals. He was born with a respiratory condition similar to asthma in humans. Thankfully, we are able to provide Bob with a special nebulizer designed for dolphins which has helped keep Bob happy & healthy for over 25 years!

Dinghy

Ding-a-ling, also known as Dinghy, Ding, or Mother, is our eldest dolphin and resident "human trainer". Characterized by petite features, Dinghy has a stout, triangular shaped dorsal fin and very small flukes.. Ding is often recognized by her distinct eyes, as she is functionally blind in both eyes. Just behind Ding's neck, she has several prominent wrinkles that stretch across her collar area. As the mother of six offspring, Ding is a no nonsense mom and teaches her calves right from wrong at an early age. Dinghy has participated in research studies exploring how mothers call their wandering calves to return to them. Despite being visually impaired and the eldest dolphin, Dinghy has never lost her innate spirit and thrives under our care. Her loveable and laughable interactions with trainers and guests make her very special. As Dinghy ages, we take special care to provide her with a comfortable life she enjoys. Part of this care includes advanced veterinary sampling procedures which Dinghy excels with. She is one of our most solid dolphins when it comes to giving blood samples for diagnostics and is also the only animal that participates in a voluntary gastric scope. Dinghy always keeps her trainers on their toes and is truly one of a kind.

Jessica

Jessica, our longest female dolphin has recently become the matriarch of our pod. Jessica is most easily recognized by the light coloration of her eyes., but can also be recognized by her small, triangular shaped dorsal fin, protruding lower jaw, and light belly with gray freckles. Otherwise known as J-Mom or Jess, Jessica enjoys being a mom and is best known for her tranquil, yet strong personality. Jessica is the mother to four beautiful offspring and takes the role of mothering and babysitting very seriously, even extending her protective nature to other dolphins. Although easy going by nature, Jessica's status as a dominant female over other dolphins is evident when protecting the young calves in the lagoon. Jessica prefers her calves stay close by and tends to nurse her calves for an extended period of time. She is also well known for her strength, speed, and excitement during interactive programs with guests. Jessica’s gentle nature means she is a “go-to” dolphin for interacting with guests and she often captures the hearts of all who meet her.

Tug

Named after his mother Dinghy, Tug (like the boat) is a loveable male dolphin with an eager-to-please personality. Tug is known for being the most energetic dolphin in our population and tends to have one speed… FAST! His favorite behaviors with trainers and guests are the high energy behaviors and he thrives at learning new aerial behaviors. All of this exercise keeps Tug in great shape!

There is no denying that Alfonz is the father of this dolphin as Tug can be very creative and goofy, traits that define his father’s personality. Despite his sometimes creative nature, Tug is fantastic at learning new behaviors. Perhaps the most impressive behavior he has learned in his young years is the ‘Slide-Out’ behavior, where Tug slides himself all the way out of the water. This behavior takes coordination, concentration, and most-importantly trust with his trainers.

Tug is easily recognized by his tall dorsal fin which doesn’t have any notches out of the trailing edge. Despite his large dorsal fin, a trait he inherited from Alfonz, he has very small flukes, a trait he inherited from Dinghy. There’s no denying he is a perfect blend of his parents which makes him a fantastic animal to interact with and care for.