Green Heart At Work: Delightful Dolphins

Dolphins are extraordinarily intelligent marine mammals and one of the most iconic species of the marine world. Here are just a few more interesting facts about these fantastic species:

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· Dolphins are part of the family of toothed whales that includes orcas and pilot whales.

· Their coloration varies, but are normally grey in colour with darker backs than the rest of their bodies.

· There are 43 different species of dolphins that have been recognized.

· The body of a dolphin is designed to help them move through the water quickly and without exerting huge amounts of energy. They rely on their pectoral fins and the fluke (tail) to help them navigate through the water.

· Echolocation allows them to communicate in the water by identifying sound waves. It is a complex ability that stems from the melon that is located in the head of a dolphin.

· Dolphins have very good vision, and they are able to see what is around them both in the water and when they are above the surface of it.

· They have excellent hearing with the ability to hear about 10 times better than humans.

· The sense of smell isn’t well developed for them though.

· The sense of touch is very sensitive for dolphins and they use it for bonding within their pods.

· They rely on a combination of their senses to avoid danger, to find food, and to socialize.

· The name dolphin comes from the word womb, and it is believed to be the Greek saying for fish with a womb.

· The young are called calves

· The female adults are cows.

· The male adults are bulls

· A group of them is often called a pod.

Diet
· Dolphins are carnivores

· They consume an assortment of prey including fish, squid, and crustaceans.

· They use echolocation to find prey and often hunt together by surrounding a school of fish, trapping them, and taking turns swimming through the school and catching fish.

· Dolphins will also follow seabirds, other whales, and fishing boats to feed opportunistically on the fish they scare up or discard.

· Even though dolphins have 100 teeth, they don’t use them for eating. They do use them to get the fish though and then they swallow them. They can consume up to 30 pounds fish per day.

· They do what is necessary to get the food for the pod members. It can include jumps, zig zag patterns, circles, and a combination of efforts.

· With an exceptionally high fat content, dolphin and other cetacean meat provides great nutrition for predators who stalk.

Size

The larger ones can weigh about 11 tons and be close to 30 feet long. The smaller ones are about 90 pounds and 4 feet long. Between those two spectrums you will find all weights and lengths. The species as well as their location play a huge role in their overall size.

Range

· They are found typically in shallow seas of the continental shelves.

· Most species live in shallow areas of tropical and temperate oceans.

· Five species live in the world's rivers.

· Most of the species of dolphins live in saltwater but there are some that are able to do well in the freshwater locations.

· They are mainly found in the freshwater of the Amazon River.

· They tend to live in the shallow water by the coast and they tend to live in warmer locations.

Behaviour

· Dolphins are well known for their agility and playful behaviour

· Many species will leap out of the water and spy-hop (rise vertically out of the water to view their surroundings). Some of them leap up to 30 feet in the air.

· Dolphins live in social groups of five to several hundred.

· They have to come to the surface to for water at different intervals to get air. This can be from 20 seconds to 30 minutes between when they get air.

· They are curious.

· To prevent drowning while sleeping only half of the dolphin’s brain goes to sleep while the other half remains awake so they can continue to breathe!

· They form strong bonds within their pod.

· They have been known to help humans in a variety of circumstances including rescues and with fishing.

· Dolphins are extremely social creatures and actually seem to depend on this interaction while hunting, mating, and defending themselves and their pods.

Reproduction

· 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.

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· 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.

· Dolphins give birth to live young, and nurse them with mammary glands, though it boggles the mind to imagine nursing underwater.

Some Dolphin Species include:

· Bottlenose Dolphin