|
|
|
| |
|
Dolphin Facts Overview
Here are some quick facts and general information about Dolphins. See the dolphin species index for information specific to particular kinds of dolphins.
Dolphins are mammals, like humans, and belong to a group called cetaceans, which includes whales. They are warm blooded and use the blow hold at the top of their heads to breathe air like other land animals although they live in the sea. They close this blow hole when diving underwater to prevent water from entering their lungs.
Dolphins have teeth, a four chambered heart (like humans) and even have a light covering of hair.
Dolphins give birth to live babies and nurse them like many animal mothers do. Mature female dolphins will give birth every 2 to 3 years.
Porpoises and dolphins are related, but they are not the same animal. Dolphins have a larger forehead and round teeth when subsectioned. Porpoises are slimmer and have flat teeth when subsectioned.
Dolphins and whales are from the same family. In fact, dolphins are called "toothed whales" and the largest dolphin is the Killer Whale (Orca), which can grow to 20 to 30 feet in length. Bottlenosed dolphins (which are the most common dolphins) grow 8 to 9 feet long at adulthood.
There are 32 species of oceanic dolphins and 5 species of river dolphins.
Bottlenose dolphins can easily swim 3 to 7 miles per hour and can go over 20 miles per hour if required.
Dolphins are quite intelligent. Scientists currently disagree on the dolphin's exact intelligence level, but most agree it is along the same lines as a chimpanzee or a pig. However, the brain size of a bottle-nosed dolphin is similar to a human brain, so no one is exactly sure just how intelligent they may really be. Some experts say the intelligence order of mammals is 1)humans, 2)dolphins, 3)chimpanzee, 4)pig, while others reverse the orders of 2) and 3).
Dolphins can learn various actions to help them communicate with humans, if those actions are broken down into smaller steps. Training is similar to training other animals with a reward of food when done correctly.
Dolphins communicate among themselves by using whistles and body actions, and have an extensive vocabulary in their language. They also use clicking sound pulses to help them navigate through the water. The sound pulses bounce off objects and let the dolphin know what is ahead and how large the object is.
Although dolphins are for the most part friendly, fun-loving animals, they can be vicious if provoked. A dolphin can easily break a human's ribs and cause serious internal damage if they ram you with their noses. Anyone swimming with dolphins needs to be aware of the body signals of the dolphin which say "I've had enough" and respect those signals.
The life span of a dolphin is 25 to 50 years.
Dolphins have astute sound, keen vision, touch and taste senses, although they cannot smell.
A dolphin's diet consists of fish, crustaceans and squid (when available).
Dolphins can be found in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and they prefer warm to tropical waters.
Dolphin Species Index
|
|
|
|
