Dolphins: Intelligent and Social Marine Mammals
Dolphins are among the most beloved marine animals, admired for their playful nature, acrobatics, and human-like intelligence. Despite their popularity, much remains to be learned about these remarkable creatures.
1. Enjoying Life with Boats
- Dolphins often follow boats for fun, using the wake as a speed boost.
- Pods may perform jumps, twists, and tricks to entertain themselves and show off to each other.
2. Dolphins are Whales
- Dolphins are toothed whales; the orca (killer whale) is a member of the dolphin family.
3. Intelligent Creatures
- Dolphins are extremely intelligent, second only to humans among animals.
- Their brains, sensory systems, and behaviors have evolved for rich, complex underwater lives.
4. Taking Joyful Jumps
- Jumping allows dolphins to show off, check for predators, and conserve energy while swimming.
5. Friends and Family
- Dolphins are highly social and often form large pods called “superpods,” sometimes exceeding 1,000 individuals.
6. Longevity
- Dolphins can live up to 60 years. The oldest known wild dolphin, Nicklo, lived to 67.
7. Mother-Calf Bond
- Calves remain with their mothers for 3–6 years.
- Pregnancies last about a year, and nursing continues for 2–3 years.
8. Belly Buttons
- Dolphins have belly buttons from the umbilical cord that connects them to their mothers in the womb.
9. Communication
- Dolphins use clicks, whistles, and squeals to communicate within their pod.
- Whistles can even be used like names to call specific individuals.
10. Echolocation
- Dolphins use echolocation to navigate and locate prey, similar to sonar in submarines.
- The “melon” directs sound waves, which bounce off objects and return to the lower jaw, inner ear, and brain to create an auditory map.
