Maui's dolphins have a reasonably short life-span compared to other dolphins, with most living for about 20 years. When born, they come out tail-first and are immediately strong swimmers, then they have to go to the surface to breath air. LIFE CYCLE MATING The two dolphins mate by patting each other on the back. According to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, the oldest dolphin aged scientifically in the wild was 48 years old. Life history cycle Bottlenose Dolphin calves are born in the water after a gestation period of one year and suckle for about 18 months. Forty is an old age for a dolphin -- one making it to 40 is comparable to a human living to be 100. The female dolphin gives birth to one baby calf. The vast dolphin realm (family Delphinidae) consists of 36 distinct species from 17 genera, spotted in oceans all around the planet. A female dolphin will be pregnant for about a year. The baby is born, the calf grows and reaches puberty, it then mates with another dolphin of the opposite sex, the dolphin fetus gestates in the female’s womb for a period of time before it is born and the cycle begins … The calf drinks milk from its mother for half a year. For female dolphins, the life expectancy is about 50 years. Bottlenose dolphins, for example, are part of the genus Tursiops. Dolphins usually live until they are 25 years old, although there are some species for which the average life expectancy is as low as 17 years. It takes about 12 months for the baby dolphin to be ready to be born. The baby dolphin is called a calf. Dolphin Facts | Dolphin Information | Dolphin Species | Dolphins FAQ Dolphins Life Cycle. The life cycle is zygote, embryo, calf, juvenile, and adult. First the pregnant dolphin gives birth to the baby dolphin. Babies are born in July-September. A female only has about 8 young over her life time. Young dolphins are born after a 12 month pregnancy and most births are in Spring or Autumn. They remain with the mother for about four years. A newborn dolphin is called a calf, a calf is between 42-52 inches and weighs between 30-40 pounds. They are nursed for 1 and a half to 2 years long. When dolphins are born the first month of their life they never sleep. The female dolphins are 7 when they mate and the males are 10. Death can occur as a result of old age; diseases or parasites; bacterial, fungal, and viral infections; heart disease; respiratory disorders; skin diseases; stomach ulcers; tumors; or urogenital disorders. There is very little difference in the life expectancy of dolphins which live in the wild and those which are bred in captivity. Dolphins can live to be as old as 50; however, their normal life span is about 30 years, but if they're captured and don't live in their natural habitats they usually have shorter lives. The dolphin life expectancy in captivity appears similar, as the oldest dolphin in captivity was over 50. The life cycle of the dolphin is very similar to that of any other mammal, even those which are land-based. This is a dolphins lifecycle. When the calf is born it is about a meter long. They always have one eye on their mother so they never get left behind or lost. The calf grows and makes friends then the girl dolphin gives birth. A female dolphin may have up to 4 calves in her lifetime. Dolphins can mate from about 6-8 years of age; this age is where they become an adult. The average life expectancy of a dolphin is 30 years, however their lifespan can vary from 20 – 50 years depending on the species and their situation. Baby dolphins are born in the main river of South America and Orinoco. The dolphin has a life cycle that is similar to other mammals. A newborn calf weighs about 22 pounds. They tend to be very active and surface the water for air every 3-30 seconds. The life expectancy for dolphins is about 40-45 years for males. GESTATION The gestation lasts for 9-12 months. This happens during spring time. In Spring or Summer, a newborn calf is born close to the water. These aquatic mammals -- and toothed whales -- often reproduce at all points in the year. The length of a dolphin's lifespan ranges widely depending on species and environment. Birth Adult dolphins give birth to live young and suckle (feed their babies using breasts or a teat) them.