![]() Dolphins usually stick to shallow areas of water found along coastlines and continental shelves. They can be found in oceans all over the world. Most dolphins are marine mammals – this means that they live in the sea. How do dolphins breathe?ĭolphins live in the sea, but they can’t breathe under water! They breathe through a blowhole and have to come up for air every 15 minutes. They use these special sounds to greet each other and to indicate if they are in distress. How do dolphins communicate with each other?ĭolphins communicate with each other through clicks, squeaks and whistles. How intelligent are dolphins?ĭolphins are often thought of as one of the world’s most intelligent animals. They have bigger brains than humans. It is a very useful way for dolphins to find food and navigate. Echolocation works when a dolphin bounces a high pitched sound off an object and then listens for the echo to come back. Echolocationĭolphins use a type of sonar to detect where objects are around them. They often leap out of the water, ride waves and pop their heads above the surface to look around (this is known as spy-hopping). They have been spotted chasing each other and tossing around objects such as seaweed. A pod of dolphins in the wild.ĭolphins are also very playful creatures. Pods help dolphins to form bonds and protect each other. The female members of the family are called cows, the males are called bulls and young dolphins are known as calves. They usually live in groups of around 10 – 12 members. Dolphin behaviourĭolphins are very sociable and like to spend time together. The bump on a dolphins head is known as the melon. On its back is a curved dorsal fin and on each side of the dolphin is a pectoral fin. The dolphin’s fluke propels it through the water. Male dolphins are larger than females.Ī dolphin’s body is designed to help them move quickly and easily through water. They measure around 6-12 feet (2-4 metres) long and can weigh anywhere between 3 pounds (135 – 650 kg). The bottlenose dolphin gets its name from its short and stubby beak. The most common type of dolphin is the bottlenose dolphin, which has the scientific name Tursiops. Watch the video below to see how a dolphin swims. Fish have vertical tails which move from side to side. You can tell a cetacean because their tail fins (called flukes) are horizontal, and move up and down. One way of telling the difference between a cetacean and a fish is by looking at their tails. ![]() They are members of the Cetacea (pronounced set-ay-shia) family, which also contains whales and porpoises. There are few better sights in nature than a group of dolphins swimming in the sea! Information about dolphins Dolphins always seem to be smiling – this may be part of their appeal to humans!Īlthough they are often mistaken for fish, dolphins are actually mammals. Perhaps you are lucky enough to have seen them in the wild. Have you seen a dolphin in real life? They sometimes live in captivity, in zoos, aquariums or water parks. Read on for more facts about dolphins for kids (and adults) … Dolphins are extremely intelligent and sociable animals, and have their own way to communicate with each other using special sounds.ĭolphins have a playful and friendly nature, which makes them very popular with humans.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |