Facts about Dolphins

Possibly the most interesting and cute aquatic mammal is the Dolphin.The Dolphin is a mammal with close association to the whale and porpoise. There are at least thirty seven species of dolphins in the world. The name 'Dolphin' may have come from the ancient Greek term 'Delphis',which means'with a womb'. Therefore, the meaning of the word 'Dolphin'may mean 'fish with a womb'. There are thirty two species of ocean dolphins and five species of river dolphins.

The largest dolphin is the Orca or the Killer Whale. The shortest dolphin known to mankind is the tucuxi dolphin, which is about four feet. The longest dolphin,the killer whale can be up to 30 meters and weigh well over 12,000 pounds. The name 'Dolphin' may have come from the ancient Greek term 'Delphis', which means 'with a womb'. Therefore, the meaning of the word 'Dolphin' may mean 'fish with a womb'.

Dolphins can swim gracefully due to their fusiform shape.Fusiform is a spindle-like shape.The dolphin is therefore shaped wide in the middle and is tapered at both ends. Their body shape offers the least resistance to water. Also, the dolphins have flippers which help them navigate their path in the water.

Dolphins have a single blowhole at the top of their head. Dolphins also have a plug made of muscle which prevents air from going into the lungs. Dolphins have to breathe air as all mammals do. Therefore, they come to the surface regularly to take in the air.

Dolphins have a long snout. They also have a row of sharp and conical teeth which they use for tearing away at the prey. Dolphins also have a dorsal fin at the middle of their back. This dorsal fin varies in shape from dolphin to dolphin. The dorsal fin helps them to keep a balance while swimming.

The Dolphins nurse their young using their mammary glands. They can swim upto 260 meters below the surface of the ocean. Dolphins are found in the oceans as well as rivers. Dolphins can stay under water for upto fifteen minutes.The Dolphins use a technique called echolocation to locate and store their food. Dolphins are warm blooded mammals and have an internal temperature of 30-35 degrees.Dolphins are covered with a thick layer of fat called 'blubber'just below their skin, which conserves this temperature.

Dolphins have an acute eyesight. Their hearing capabilities are superior to human beings. Dolphins use hearing for echolocation, an important survival and hunting tool for the dolphins.The most unique aspect of the dolphin is their call, a shrill whistle which is still a unsolved mystery. Scientists are of the opinion that the whistle varies from dolphin to dolphin and is a sign of introduction or other communication.

Dolphins are strong hunters of the marine world and various species employ various tactics for hunting food. One common tactic is coralling, where the prey is chased to shallow water, where they can be hunted easily. Dolphins hunt fish other inverterbrates and squid. The killer whale preys on sea turtles, marine mammals and even birds. Dolphins hunt together. They use echolocation to hunt their prey in deep and dark waters.

The most commonly seen species of the Dolphin is the bottle nosed dolphin. The bottle-nosed dolphin can grow up to 2.5 to 2.8 meters. Bottle nose dolphins can swim up to five to twelve kilometers per hour. However, they can even reach up to thirty five kilometers per hour.

Dolphins are known to be the most intelligent creatures on earth. The brain of the dolphin weighs 1500-1700 grams, while the human brains weighs 1200 grams.