Facts About Dolphins

Dolphins are amongst the most adorable as well as the most intelligent marine animals. Belonging to the Animalia kingdom, they are quite closely related to whales and porpoises. Found all over the world, they mainly occupy the shallower seas of the continental shelves. It is believed that dolphins evolved around ten million years ago, during the Miocene. They have a beak-like snout and sharp, conical teeth. However, it is their friendly appearance and seemingly playful attitude that has made them one of the most popular mammals, as far as humans are concerned. In the following lines, we have provided some interesting facts and amazing information on dolphin.

Facts about Dolphins

Binomial Name: Lagenorhynchus obliquidens

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Cetacea

Suborder: Odontoceti

Genera: 17

Species: 40

Family: Delphinidae and Platanistoidea

Length: 1.2 m to 9.5 m (4 ft to 30 ft)

Weight: 40 kg to ten tonnes

Largest Species: Killer Whale (30 ft long)

Diet: Fish and squid

Natural Habitat: Almost all the seas and oceans

Average Age: Around 20 years

Maximum Age: 40 to 50 years

Gestation Period: 11-12 months

Number of Offspring: 1

Interesting & Amazing Information on Dolphin

Dolphins use echolocation for the purpose of navigating as well as hunting. It involves bouncing high-pitched sounds off objects and listening for the echoes.
When a dolphin sleeps, it closes one half of its brain and one eye. The other half of the brain and the second eye are closed during other parts of the day.
In case of dolphins, babies are born tail first, unlike other mammals. The babies stay with the mother for two to three years.
A dolphin’s sense of smell is very poor.
There are two stomachs in the body of a dolphin - one is used for storing food, while the other digests food.
In case of some dolphins, it has been seen that they can dive as deep as 1,000 feet.
Some dolphin species can swim at a speed of up to 25 miles an hour. It is three times faster than the best human swimmers.
Dolphins might form bonds with each other that can last even their entire lifetime.
It has been seen that dolphins physically support sick as well as dying pod members.
Dolphins have an extremely sensitive retina. This makes it possible for them to see as clearly under water as above it.
An adult dolphin can consume up to 30 pounds of fish, or even more, in a single day.
A dolphin mainly uses its teeth to grasp prey. Once caught, the prey is swallowed down whole and not chewed.
Dolphins can jump to a height of 20 feet out of the water.
Dolphins have a very sensitive skin that can be easily bruised by rough surfaces, quite like the human skin.
Amongst freshwater dolphins, the largest species is that of Boto, which can grow up to 10 feet long.
A newborn dolphin becomes capable of swimming and breathing within the first few minutes of birth.
In case of dolphins, nursing of the young ones may continue for as long as 12 to 18 months after birth.
Dolphins are capable of producing two kinds of sounds - a short, pulse-type sound and a high pitched, whistle of squeal.
Dolphins have hairless skin, which feels rubbery on touch. This reduces the resistance to their bodies while swimming and augments their speed.
Dolphins have sharp hearing, eyesight and sense of touch.
Dolphins can be quite aggressive and brutal, when in a pod (group), and even abuse the weaker members.

How to Cite

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Society'