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In this journal researchers found that adult male bottle nose dolphins were found trying to mount young adult male spotted dolphins. Young adult male spotted dolphins took the passive role. However when the spotted dolphins out numbered the bottle nose dolphins they were often chased away.
Page 90.
http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/share/AquaticMammalsIssueArchives/1997/AquaticMammals_23-02/23-02_Herzing.pdf

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Female dolphins begin breeding at five to thirteen years of age.

Males begin at age eight to thirteen.

Book: Cetacean Societies: Field Studies of Dolphins and Whales
Author: Janet Mann

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There can be plenty of touching and interacting with a pair of dolphins before mating takes place. This is them bonding emotionally because for dolphins mating is not solely for reproduction.
http://www.dolphins-world.com/dolphin-reproduction/

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Dolphins can be in a pod of up to a dozen individuals for mating.
http://www.dolphins-world.com/what-is-a-dolphin-pod/

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This is an example of how dolphins mate belly to belly.

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Females are more varied in their associations. Some stay alone, some travel with a few other females, and some move subgroup to subgroup.

Dolphins mate belly to belly and most females do not conceive every year.

Females will often stay with a male and mate with him several times until she moves onto the next male.

After mating mothers take care of their offspring without the help of the father.

http://www.harmlesslion.com/dolphins/ab_court.htm

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Dolphins in the wild spend up to 30% of their time in sexual play.

Dolphins are sexually gregarious without regard for gender.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-dolphin-divide/201107/dolphin-sexuality

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A pair of dolphins typically engages in mating for a few days, but then the male goes on to mate with other females.

A female may mate with multiple males during her estrus.

The female choises the strongest, most dominant males after they compete for her.

Our textbook "Principles and Applications of Domestic Animal Behavior" would describe this type of polygamy as male dominance polygyny.

https://www.quora.com/Why-do-dolphins-mate-for-life

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Male bottle-nose dolphins form tight, long-term bonds with one or two other males. From time to time, they will herd female, trying to get her to travel with them; eventually, they attempt to mate with her.

Male competition can become fierce when there are few potential mates. Two groups of buddies gang up and sometimes steal a female away from another group.

https://harmlesslion.com/dolphins/ab_court.htm

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Mating Season: Throughout the year, though in some areas there is a peak in spring and fall.
Gestation: 9-17 months depending on the species. When it is time to give birth, the female will distance herself from the pod, often going near the surface of the water.
Number of offspring: Usually one calf; twins are rare.
As soon as the calf is born, the mother must quickly take it to the surface so it can take its first breath. The calf will nurse from 11 months to 2 years, and after it is done nursing it will still stay with its mother until it is between 3 and 8 years old.
http://www.defenders.org/dolphin/basic-facts

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Mating is not only carried out for reproduction but also for pleasure and for bonding.