Facts & Info About Dolphins
Increase your knowledge of Facts about
the Dolphins with some brief, but essential information &
fast facts about this popular animal. Important facts, data
and info containing details of the description, name
origins and habitat of Dolphins. Details of the size, height and
weight. Where they live and what they eat! Discover what
their lives are like! A mixture of Factual information
together with cool, fun, strange, amazing, weird and even
funny facts about Dolphins. A detailed Fact Sheet covering a
whole host of topics and Dolphins facts! Have Fun!
Description of Dolphins
The
Dolphin is described a marine cetacean mammal of the order cetacea.
The term cetacean includes all 76 known species of
whales,
dolphins, and porpoises. Those more than 4 to 5 m (13 to 16 ft)
long are generally referred to as whales, whereas smaller species
are known as dolphins or porpoises. Dolphins as the bottle-nosed dolphin, of the family Delphinidae,
similar to the whales but generally smaller and
having a distinct beaklike snout, called a rostrum, with conical
shaped teeth. Dolphins rank among the most intelligent marine
mammals.
The origins of the name come from
the Greek word delphus meaning womb (from its shape)
Echlocation
Echolocation - All
dolphins can
see, however as visibility is restricted underwater they have developed the use of a sonar system called
'echolocation' to find
food when navigating and hunting for food. Their clicks make
high-frequency sounds, and the echoes of these sounds bounce back
which enables them to make a mental map. Using this mental map
they are able to avoid the smallest of obstacles whilst locating
their prey. In just a split second Echlocation enables them to
determine the size of objects, their location, how fast they are
Differences between the Dolphin and
the Porpoise
The
Dolphin and the Porpoise are two different types of mammals:
Dolphins are
larger, more streamlined and acrobatic
Porpoises
are smaller and stockier with triangular dorsal fins or no
dorsal fins at all
The dolphin
dorsal fin is larger and more curved
Dolphins
have a 'beak'
Porpoises
are 'beakless', with a rounded snout
Dolphins
travel in larger groups than porpoises
Dolphins
produce sounds that humans can hear
Porpoises
communicate at frequencies beyond the range of human hearing
Species of Dolphins
There
are thirty-eight different species of Dolphins which can be
divided into three categories of Humpbacked, Ocean and River
dolphins examples of which include the following:
Lipotes
vexillifer - Baiji - Chinese River Dolphin
Inia
geoffrensis - Boto - Amazon River Dolphin
Pontoporia
blainvillei - Franciscana - La Plata River Dolphin
Platanista
minor - Indus River Dolphin
Facts about where Dolphins live and what they eat!
Dolphins are native to all of the World's
Oceans and Seas. They can also be found in some large river
systems as indicated above by their species names
Dolphins are carnivores and their diets vary according to their
habitat but commonly consist of either fish or squid, octopus,
cuttlefish, crabs, shrimps and lobsters.
Basic Facts about Dolphins
The name of a male is referred to
simply as a male
The name of a female is referred to simply as a female
The name or offspring, or a baby Dolphins, is a calf
The average size of a litter is one
The collective name for a group of Dolphins is a pod
The sound made by a Dolphins is referred to as a click or a
whistle
Facts about the Size of Male
Dolphins Killer whales are the largest
species of dolphin and can grow to 9.8 m and weigh up to
9,000-to-10,000 kg.
Facts about the life, behavior
and personality of Dolphins
They have their own signature
whistle which distinguishes them from other dolphins!
Groups form strong alliances in
their pods
A baby dolphin learns to 'speak'
and hunt from its parents
Cool and Fun Facts about Dolphins
Some
fascinating information & facts about Dolphins - find our
what a Pod, a Rostrum, a Melon, Blubber, Flukes and Blowholes are!
A group of dolphins is called a Pod
Their snouts, or
beaks, are called the Rostrum
The Fatty tissue
below a dolphin's skin helps to keep it warm and is called
Blubber
Fins - the Dorsal Fin is used for balance and is found
on the back of the animal
Fins - the
Pectoral Fins are used for stopping and
steering and found on either side of the body
Fins - the
Flukes are used for propelling through water and are located
on the tail
The forehead is called the Melon (because of its
shape)
This is a hole at the top of a dolphin's head called a
Blowhole which is used for breathing and making sounds
What does that word mean??
Some
fascinating information & facts about the words that are often
used to describe animals! Read the facts and information and decide how
Dolphins
should be described!
What is a
Mammal?
A Mammal is a
warm blooded, vertebrate mammal. Warm blooded means that their
temperature remains the same although their surroundings might
change. This explains why they have a covering of hair on
their skin. A mammal has milk-producing mammary glands for
nourishing their young
What is a
Vertebrate?
A
Vertebrate is an animal that has a backbone which consists of
ring-like bones, called vertebrae, that protect the soft
spinal cord
What is an
Invertebrate?
An
Invertebrate animal does not have a backbone. They are also
cold-blooded which means their body temperature changes
according to the environment environment
What is a
Carnivore?
A
Carnivore is an animal which eats mainly meat
What is a
Herbivore?
A
Herbivore is an animal which eats mainly plants and grass
What is an
Omnivore?
An
Omnivore is an animal which eats both meat and plants
What is an
Amphibian?
An
Amphibian is an animal spend part of its life under water
(breathing with gills) and the remainder on land (breathing
with lungs)
Some
fascinating information & facts about the words that are often
used to describe animals! Read the information and decide how a
Dolphins should be described!
Endangered Species
Wild life experts consider that the
Chinese River dolphin and Indus River dolphin are endangered under
the Endangered Species Act.
An endangered species is one that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The Causes of a species of animal becoming endangered are due to Habitat Destruction such as the rainforest, introduction of exotic species, disease, water pollution,
global warming and over exploitation of natural resources. As people are made aware of the facts about endangered species, initiatives such as Recycling are increasing in popularity. Endangered Species Organizations are
dedicated to saving and preserving the world's most endangered
wildlife. Interesting facts about
Endangered Species.
Dolphins Facts and Information about Dolphins We hope that the selection of
Facts about Dolphins has provided you with the information you have
been searching for! A mixture of Factual information together with
cool, fun, strange, amazing, weird and even funny facts about this
amazing animal. A detailed Fact Sheet covering a whole host of
topics information and facts about Dolphins. We believe that the concise and fun
facts provided are full of interesting information about this popular animal!
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