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You are here: Home / Animals / Dolphins

Dolphins

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Dolphins (Delphinidae) are aquatic mammals related to whales and porpoises and famous for their intelligence, apparent compassion and joy. There are almost 40 species of dolphin in 17 genera. Dolphins vary in size from 1.2 metres (4 feet) and 40 kilograms (88 pounds) (Maui’s Dolphin), up to 9.5 metres (30 feet) and 10 tonnes (the Orca). However, the average length for most North American species is 13.89 feet in length. Most species weigh about 50 to 200 kilograms (110 to 440 pounds).

Dolphins are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid. The family Delphinidae is the largest in the Cetacea and relatively recent. Dolphins evolved about 10 million years ago, during the Miocene (The Miocene epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23 to 5.3 million years before the present).

Dolphins have a spindle-like shaped body that tapers at both ends, adapted for fast swimming. Their head contains the ‘melon’ (an oval shaped oily, fatty lump of tissue found at the centre of the forehead ), which is used for echolocation (non-human animals emitting sound waves and listening to the echo in order to locate objects or navigate).

In many species of dolphin, the jaws are elongated, forming a distinct beak however for some species like the Bottlenose Dolphin, there is a curved mouth that looks like a fixed smile. Teeth can be very numerous (up to 250) in several species. The dolphin brain is large and has a highly structured cortex, which often is referred to in discussions about their high intelligence.

 

Dolphins are often regarded as one of the most intelligent animal species. Dolphins often leap above the water surface, sometimes performing acrobatic figures. Scientists are not quite certain about the purpose of this behaviour, but it may be to locate schools of fish by looking at above water signs, like feeding birds.

Dolphins can also communicate with other dolphins to join a hunt, attempting to dislodge parasites, or simply doing it for fun.

Play is a very important part of dolphins lives and they can often be observed playing with seaweed or playfighting with other dolphins. Dolphins have even been seen harassing other creatures, like seabirds and turtles. Dolphins also seem to enjoy riding waves and are frequently seen ‘surfing’ coastal swells and the bow waves of boats.

Dolphin Species Scientific Name

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Stenella frontalis 

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin Stenella attenuata

Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba

Rough-toothed Dolphin Steno bredanensis

Commerson’s Dolphin Cephalorhynchus commersonii

Hector’s Dolphin Cephalorhynchus hectori

Common Dolphin:  

Long-Beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus capensis

Short-Beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis

Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus

Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About

  • Commerson Dolphin
  • Rough-Toothed Dolphins
  • Hectors Dolphin
  • Pantropical Spotted Dolphins
  • Striped Dolphins
    Striped Dolphins
  • Common Dolphin

About Joanne Spencer

I've always been passionate about animals which led me to a career in training and behaviour. As an animal professional I'm committed to improving relationships between people and animals to bring them more happiness.

Animal Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Artiodactyla
Infraorder:Cetacea
Family:Delphinidae
Subfamily:Delphininae
Genus:Tursiops
Type species:Delphinus truncatus

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