One of the many creatures of the sea! Dolphins One of the many creatures of the sea!

Dolphins Dolphins are warm blooded mammals. They have round teeth and hair on their body, though the amount of hair they have is very little. Dolphins are part of the cetaceans family. The cetaceans family includes both dolphins and whales. Dolphins are the “toothed whale.” Dolphins vary in color. Adult dolphins grow to be about 8 or 9 feet long. Dolphins give birth to a live baby.

How a dolphin breathes Dolphins breathe through their blowhole which is located on the top of their head. Dolphins can refill their lungs in a fifth of a second. As it breaths, the air leaves the blowhole at a speed of 100 mph. There are complex nerve cells located around the hole that sense when the hole is near air and will then open. If water gets into the blowhole, a dolphin will drown, so powerful muscles close the hole as a dolphin dives into the water.

A glance into the Dolphin World Click on the picture to view two videos of dolphins!

More facts about Dolphins Dolphins can hold their breath for 5 to 8 minutes. Each dolphin has its own whistle that distinguishes it from another. It’s like having your own finger print. Dolphins usually live for 20 years, but some have been known to live for up to 40. Dolphins sleep partly awake. This means that they rest one side of their brain at a time. Dolphins closest land relatives are the cow, the pig and the deer. The gender difference between a male and a female dolphin can only be seen up close. A women has a mammary slit on the underside for birth. The common dolphin can be found in all temperate and tropical seas. There are dolphins that live in rivers also, but due to pollution and dams, river dolphins are in danger of extinction.

The Difference between a Dolphin and a Porpoise Dolphins Porpoise Dolphins and Porpoise are both members of the whale family. Both have teeth. The body type of a dolphin and a porpoise are different. A dolphin has a large forehead. Another way to tell the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise is to look at their teeth. When a dolphin’s tooth is cut in half, it is round. All porpoises’ teeth are flat. A dolphin has a beak-like nose and a curved dorsal fin. A porpoise has a blunt like nose and has a triangular dorsal fun.

Bottlenose Dolphin Click the above picture for activity! A Bottlenose dolphin is one type of dolphin. They can grow to be 12 feet long and weigh 1,400 pounds. A Bottlenose dolphin has a distinct beak, as you can see in the diagram located to the right. They eat fish and squid; fish that are found at the surface of the water. Dolphins have one main predator, the shark, but often, dolphins get caught in fishing nets. Bottlenose dolphins live in small pods of 12, but many times a bunch of small pods will join together to form a huge congregation of hundreds of dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins are very social. Dolphins can dive down 1,000 feet and can jump 20 feet into the air. They live in warm seas and some temperate sea waters worldwide. Click the above picture for activity!

A wave goodbye from the Dolphins!