Dolphins are often the main attraction in several theme parks worldwide. They are very social, highly intelligent, joyful, and playful. Researchers state that these marine creatures share many emotional similarities with humans. They’re deemed smart enough to team up with humans and help them fish in seas and oceans. Over the years, fishermen often bond with dolphins to scout the best areas for casting nets.
Most dolphins live in the seas and ocean waters, while some prefer to live in coastal areas. Some species of dolphins like shallow waters but are further away from the coast. They mostly travel in social groups called pods, which can have up to 1,000 dolphins. Over time, dolphins socialize in groups by hunting, playing, whistling, and communicating while mimicking each other’s antics to form lasting bonds.
Dolphins have a complex communication structure, and the only ones known to humans are clicks, whistles, squeaks, buzzes, and other crazy noises. In addition to calling out to other dolphins or humans, dolphins use squeals and clicks for echolocation. While communicating with noises with the new members, some dolphins often use touch to form a close bond and rely on their body language.
You may have seen two dolphins touch each other’s fins and rub their bellies together while swimming – a sign of strong camaraderie. And when that happens, you’ll often see them mimicking each other and displaying the same behavior, like moving, flapping water surfaces, or swimming in sync.
Along with vocal communication, flapping the water’s surface with their body or tails is also a form of call for courting, fighting, playing, or simply stunning other aquatic beings around them. Like humans, even dolphins have distinct personalities. Researchers broadly classify them into bold and shy. You must have seen the dolphins who venture out to investigate new items or approach human divers. They’re the bold ones and often form stronger relationships. Meanwhile, the shy dolphins prefer to stay close to their social group.
Dolphins mostly hunt for fish, squid, and other crustaceans. Instead of chewing them, they break the food into chunks before swallowing it. To hunt, some dolphins use the sea sponge on their beak to uncover the seafood. Alternatively, they poke and pry open sea shells to shake and gulp down their contents.
Dolphins’ cognitive capabilities set them apart from other animals. Their capability to perceive, solve problems, and communicate makes them the world’s most intelligent creatures. These faculties make them friendlier and form lasting bonds with humans. That’s how you will see them performing water acrobatics in the massive saltwater-based aquariums.
Dolphins are aquatic mammals, like whales and seals. They are not fish, and they give birth to younger dolphins. Mature female dolphins can stay pregnant from nine to sixteen months and produce milk to nurse their younger ones with milk, even under the water. These young ones are called calves and have hair around their beak, which falls off quickly as they grow. Like every other mammal’s mother-child relationship, the calves stay close to dolphin mothers for a couple of years and sometimes for their entire life.
To breathe air, Dolphins have lungs in their body instead of gills. The blowholes on their body open when they pop up to the surface to replenish their air supply. And then close them when they dive. With each breath, they can process 80 percent of oxygen from the air. Compared to an average human, their lungs, muscles, and blood also have a high oxygen storage capacity.
Their warm blood helps them regulate their body temperature and stay warm, especially when the water around them turns cold. Warm blood also helps them fight infections and other ailments primarily affecting cold-blooded aquatic animals. While dolphins can survive in cooler and warmer water, many migrate between them, while some prefer to stay in one area throughout their lives.
When you venture out swimming in the seas and ocean, you’re likely to find a friendly dolphin swimming alongside as much as a threatened shark. Also, moving ships and large vessels attract them, and you can find countless videos of dolphins swimming next to them.
Dolphins can live up to an average of 40 years while swimming free in the oceans. However, they can only survive up to 20 years in captivity. Over a dozen species of dolphins are endangered, and some are extinct.