| Dolphins are marine mammals found in all the | | | | others. It's like an identification mark. In |
| world's oceans, relatives to whales and | | | | some ocean dolphins, the dorsal fin is |
| porpoises. River dolphins live in freshwater | | | | hooked-shape instead of like a triangle. The |
| rivers and lakes. They are intelligent and | | | | male killer whales have very tall dorsal fins |
| playful creatures and friendly to | | | | whereas in river dolphins it scarcely forms a |
| humans.Dolphins have a sleek body shape, | | | | ridge on the back.Besides using eyes, |
| which helps them to be good swimmers. They | | | | dolphins can find their way by making |
| have long snouts, a row of sharp teeth, and a | | | | clicking sounds, and listening to the sounds |
| blowhole for breathing on top of the head. | | | | that echo or bounce back to them from their |
| They feed on fish, squid, and other small | | | | surroundings. This is called |
| marine life.Feeding dolphins at SeaWorld, | | | | echolocation.Under their skin, dolphins have |
| OrlandoDolphins are social animals, and | | | | a layer of fat called blubber. It insulates |
| usually live and hunt in groups. They | | | | the dolphin so it can keep warm even in cold |
| communicate with each other with sounds such | | | | water. The colder the water is where the |
| as whistles, screeches, and clicks. Dolphins | | | | dolphin lives, the thicker the layer of |
| are often friendly to humans, riding on waves | | | | blubber.BehaviorDolphins are social animals |
| produced by boats, aiding lost swimmers, and | | | | that live in schools of varying size; some |
| adapting to life in captivity performing | | | | only have 2-5 dolphins while enormous schools |
| tricks and jumps.There are at least 40 | | | | of 1,000 or more have been found as well. A |
| different species of dolphins. The one most | | | | typical school of bottlenose dolphins might |
| commonly used in amusement parks and | | | | be 10-20 individuals.For food, dolphins hunt |
| performances is bottlenose dolphin, which has | | | | fish, squid and other invertebrates; killer |
| a 'built-in' smile formed by the curvature of | | | | whales also feed on other marine mammals, sea |
| its mouth. The killer whale, or orca, is the | | | | turtles, and birds. Dolphins often hunt |
| largest member of dolphin family. | | | | together, trying to catch schools of fish. |
| | | | They can use echolocation to find prey in |
| Physical featuresDolphins have a sleek body | | | | deep, dark waters.Dolphins make whistles, |
| shape, so as to offer the least resistance | | | | clicks, and screeching sounds to communicate |
| for swimming. The two flippers located | | | | with each other, and for echolocation. In |
| underside help the dolphin steer its course. | | | | many species each individual dolphin makes a |
| The bones in these flippers resemble human | | | | unique 'signature whistle'. Human-made |
| hand! The tail with flukes provides the main | | | | underwater sounds, such as used with sonar |
| swimming force.As mammals, dolphins have to | | | | images, can interfere with dolphins' |
| breathe air. They do so through a single | | | | communication, and even injure tissues used |
| blowhole on the top of the head. It has a | | | | for hearing and air intake.Dolphins also help |
| muscular plug to keep water out of the lungs | | | | each other in various ways. If a dolphin is |
| while diving. The head has a long snout. | | | | sick and can't raise to the surface to get |
| Dolphins have a long row of conical teeth | | | | air, another one supports it at the surface |
| that are used for catching and tearing prey - | | | | so it can breathe. Or, a dolphin may stay |
| not for chewing.Different dolphin species | | | | near an injured or sick one as a companion. |
| vary a lot in size. The smallest one, tucuxi | | | | Dolphins also defend an injured one against a |
| dolphin, is about 4 feet (1.2m) long and | | | | threat such as a boat.Male and female dolphin |
| weighs about 110 pounds (50kg), whereas the | | | | take part in courtship, which involves |
| enormous killer whales is over 30 feet | | | | playing, caressing, and 'songs'. Gestation |
| (9-10m) long and weighs 12,000 pounds (5 500 | | | | lasts about a year, and then a single calf is |
| kg).You've seen the gray ones, but dolphins | | | | born. Calving usually occurs once every two |
| can also be black or brown, and can have | | | | years. Dolphin mother produces very high-fat |
| patterns of white or light colors.In the | | | | milk for her young. The calf is weaned aroud |
| middle of their back, many dolphins have what | | | | 6 months to two years.Certain dolphin species |
| is called a dorsal fin. It helps them to keep | | | | live quite long, 50 years or more, while the |
| their balance. Furthermore, each dolphin's | | | | bottlenose dolphin and common dolphin |
| dorsal fin is shaped differently from the | | | | typically live around 20-25 years. |