Dolphins belong to the cetacean species and are considered marine mammals.
Currently around 40 species of dolphin have been recorded living in the ocean.
These marine mammals can vary greatly in size, starting with the smallest known dolphin (Maui’s dolphin) which can grow to an average of 4 ft. long and going all the way up to the largest dolphin (the killer whale) which can measure a massive 30 ft. in length and weigh 22, 000 pounds when fully matured.
Most dolphins have streamlined bodies that are designed for agility and fast swimming.
Dolphins use their tail for propulsion through the water while their fins help to stabilize them and assist with turning, roll and navigating through the water.
Unlike baleen whales dolphins are born with a single blowhole (instead of two blowholes) that they use for breathing and communicating by creating sounds.
Dolphins are an extremely intelligent species and in many cases they are also very playful as often popularized by human culture.
When it comes to diet dolphins have been known to consume a variety of different prey such as herring, cod, squid, plankton, and fish.
Although most dolphin species consume small aquatic life forms there are a few species such as the killer whale which will hunt and eat larger prey such as seals, sea lions and whales.
Although dolphins have teeth many species swallow their food whole, using their teeth mainly to catch and grasp their prey.
Unlike some whale species dolphins are not known for making long migration trips.
Some species will migrate due to seasonal changes, but they don’t travel nearly as far as some whales do.
Dolphins typically prefer tropical climates and are generally part of one of two ecosystems.
Coastal dolphins prefer to stay near the coast in shallow waters (which is where the majority of dolphins appear to be).
Off shore dolphins prefer to live away from the shore line and can be found living further out in the sea.
Dolphins are extremely sociable creatures, often traveling in pods that are composed of 2 to 15 dolphins, although some pods can be much larger during certain types of activities.
Pods are used by dolphins as way to protect themselves against predators, hunt for food and maintain a good social structure with one another.
Dolphins can communicate using a series of clicking and whistling sounds, and through the use of body language such as leaping out of the water, slapping their fins against the water and bumping into one another.
These sounds and body language signals are used to communicate affection, warn other dolphins of danger and alert them to food nearby.
In addition to creating sounds for communication each dolphin has a unique frequency that allows other dolphins to distinguish which one in the group is communicating.
These sounds are also used to help the mother dolphin keep track of her children when traveling or socializing in large pods.
Dolphins are also equipped with echolocation which they use to track prey and navigate the environment by creating sounds and estimating how long the echo takes to come back.
By using echolocation dolphins can tell how far the object is, if it is hard or soft and how large it is.
When it comes to giving birth the average gestation period (the time from inception to birth) for a female dolphin is 12 months although this can change from species to species.
Female dolphins usually mature between the ages of 5 – 13 while males usually mature between the ages of 9 – 14.
Dolphins can bear offspring year-long although it is more likely the will mate during the warmer months (mating season).
During mating season male dolphins can become increasingly aggressive and competitive often fighting other males or herding off the female dolphin to try to limit her chances of being impregnated by other males.
Some males dolphins will even create factions fighting and fending off other factions that are trying to mate with their females.
Female dolphins typically produce offspring every 2 – 6 years and will usually raise their young for several years after they are born.
Daily routines
Over the last several decades scientists have learned a lot about the dolphin species, how they interact with one another and what they do in their habitat.
Most species of dolphin can be found spending their time dabbling in a number of activities such as hunting for food, mating, socializing, sleeping and exploring their environment.
Foraging / Hunting
Since food is an important part of a dolphins survival and prosperity dolphins can be found spending part of their time hunting for food.
Many species of dolphin are extremely social and enjoy hunting for food together.
During these hunting periods groups of dolphins can be found swimming together using team oriented hunting methods to capture their food.
Some dolphin pods will swim around a group of fish in a circle corralling the fish together then once the fish are formed into a tightly knit ball the dolphins will dart into the school of fish and take turns attacking their prey.
Other pods will try to force their prey into a corner or against the wall in order to prevent them from escaping.
Dolphins are also equipped with echolocation which allows them to locate food using sound.
This becomes especially useful in places where vision is limited such as during the night-time or when making deep dives.
Socializing
As stated earlier dolphins are a social species.
Dolphins communicate to one another using a variety of techniques.
Dolphins can communicate with each other using high-pitched frequencies and a combination of clicking and whistling sounds.
Each dolphin has its own unique vocal pitch which allows the dolphins to know which one is speaking when in a large pod.
This can be extremely important when a small pod such as a mother dolphin and her child meet up with a larger pod and need to be able to keep in contact with one another.
Dolphins also communicate through the use of body language by breaching the water, spy hopping, lunging and slapping their flukes and tails against they water which can communicate a number of things to other dolphins such as nearby danger, a desire to play, to alert the pod that there is nearby food and to challenge one another during mating season.
Sleeping
Just like all mammals dolphins need to rest.
One big difference about a dolphins sleep pattern is the fact that dolphins are only able to rest for short periods of time.
Dolphins are known as conscious breathers because they are never able to fall completely asleep.
Since dolphins live in the water and require oxygen to breathe they must always maintain a certain level of consciousness otherwise they could drown.
In fact scientific studies have shown that when a dolphin rests only half of its brain shuts down.
The other half of the brain remains conscious in case a dolphin needs to react to a situation such as coming up for air.
Exploring
Dolphins are a very curious species and can often be found approaching boats in an attempt to understand what is going on.
In certain situations dolphins may even approach humans and make physical contact with them to play or communicate.
Dolphins also enjoy swimming around their habitat and learning about their environment.
Mating and Breeding
Another common and important part of a dolphins life is mating.
One thing that is different among dolphins compared to other animal species is that dolphins will mate all year-long regardless of season while other animals only mate during their mating season.
While dolphins tend to mate more during the warmer summer months they can be found mating all year-long.
In addition to mating for the purpose of baring offspring dolphins will also mate for pure pleasure, even when the female dolphin isn’t in her estrus cycle.