Skip to main content

10 curiosities about dolphins

10 curiosities about dolphins

The dolphins are mammals belonging to the family Delphinidae and it is probably the most popular, charismatic and intelligent animal kingdom marine creatures.These characteristics and many other peculiarities make us humans become very interested in these cetaceans and their intelligence.Maybe you are looking for some dolphin curiosities for children or you may want to know more about the species.In any case, you have arrived at the right place!
In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will show you 10 curiosities of dolphins based on scientific studies that ensure its truthfulness, surely you discover many things you did not know about dolphins! If you want to know curious facts about dolphins, don't think about it, read on...

1.How many types of dolphins are there in the world?

As we have advanced in the introduction, oceanic dolphins or dolphins are mammals that belong to the family Delphinidae , which includes more than 30 different species. more than 2,000 dolphins in captivity , who live in water parks, dolphinariums and even in commercial enclosures.
It is not possible to provide accurate information regarding the population of dolphins in freedom , but it would be around 9 million individuals .Dolphins are gregarious animals, that is, with a tendency to group, being able to create groups of up to 1,000 copies, which they communicate and relate to each other.

10 curiosities about dolphins

2.Where do dolphins live?

The habitat of the dolphins and their migration can vary depending on several factors, such as the abundance of food, the temperature or the distance to the shore.They usually opt for shallow, near-shore waters of Tropical and temperate climates , thus avoiding colder waters.For that reason, we can find dolphins in virtually anywhere in the world.

3.Dolphin communication

The forms of communication that dolphins emit when interacting with each other and with the environment is probably one of the aspects that has generated a greater interest in the scientific community.Dolphins use a very developed and sensitive method that It is called "echolocation" to receive information about the environment in which they are located, but they also perform "vocal specializations" of high and low frequency to communicate with each other and even with other marine individuals.
Since some porpoises seem to use the echolocation system in a rhythmic way to communicate with each other and not only to interact with the environment, it is estimated that dolphins may also have developed vocal specializations and auditory, thus generating a varied and complex communication system .[1]
The wide variety of whistles produced by dolphins can vary according to ambient noise [2] and their variety and complexity demonstrate their important cognitive abilities.Some of the functions of the whistles are the recognition of specific individuals , the cohesion in the group or the coordination of movements, hunting or surveillance among others.[3] [4] 

10 curiosities about dolphins

4.Do dolphins use tools?

A study conducted in a group of bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops sp.) in freedom revealed that some individuals, mostly females, used sponges as tools during foraging.from observing them for days it was concluded that they used them for the search for food .
Although this hypothesis is the most supported, it is also estimated that dolphins can use sponges for activities related to the game or that take advantage of some of its components, for example for medicinal purposes.In any case, sponge transport is a common specialization of dolphin behavior.[5]

5.Is it true that dolphins sleep with one eye open?

The Dolphins do not sound the same way as other mammals, in fact, a study published in 1964 explained that bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) slept with one eye open and one closed and suggested that it could be due to a state of alertness to possible predators .However, no physiological correlation was observed between the cerebral hemisphere and the open eye, so it could not be demonstrated that this type of behavior had a real surveillance function.
Later, another study conducted on white Pacific dolphins ( Lagenorhynchus obliquidens ) in captivity showed that this particular group opened or closed the eyes depending on the position in the pool of other group members, therefore, it is estimated that they open and close their eyes during the hours of sleep to ensure eye contact with other members of the same group social.[6]

10 curiosities about dolphins

6.What do dolphins eat?

In the early stages of life, the dolphin feeds only on breast milk, until it begins to hunt itself and feed on other resources.The dolphins are carnivorous and their diet is mainly based on the consumption of fish, octopus, molluscs and other invertebrates .
Dolphins can eat amazingly large prey, even those that can exceed 4 or 6 kilograms, since gobble instead of chewing .This form of feeding prevents the spines or fins of their prey from being stuck.

7.Dolphin intelligence

The dolphins are rational animals , that is, they are able to understand and represent the environment in which they live, make logical thoughts and draw conclusions from them.They can also modify their intentional behaviors thus creating new models of interaction and looking for new perspectives or objectives.These are intelligent animals, both behavioral, cognitive or social.
They are aware of themselves, are capable of carrying through different procedures or methods, they have a social conscience and also show a complex domain of language and natural forms of communication of the species.[8]

8.Are dolphins bisexual?

While conducting a study on bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) in captivity, homosexual and heterosexual behaviors were observed in individuals, as well as practice of masturbation in males.[7] Likewise, a documentary about homosexuality in the animal kingdom of National Geographic, identifies dolphins as very affective creatures who carry out regular sexual practices, which include couple sex with members of the same and different sex or who practice sex in group.
10 curiosities about dolphins

9.Do dolphins attack man?

They are extremely rare cases of dolphin attacks on human beings in freedom.In most cases they are dolphins that confuse people with prey, so they end up releasing them, but it can also happen if humans bother them or try to interact with them.
On the contrary, cases of dolphin attacks on people in captivity are more common and Some dolphin defense organizations, such as SOS Dolphins, state the living conditions of these animals as the main cause.

10.The effects of captivity on dolphins

The living conditions of dolphins in captivity directly affect their physical and psychological well-being .Although they are tried to offer a wide environment and mental stimulation is practiced with them, the truth is is that space limitations and the constant auditory and sound stimuli reduce the quality of life of dolphins in captivity.They also influence the lack of natural seawater or food based on frozen fish. life expectancy of dolphins in captivity is around 20 years old, while in its natural environment it is around 50 years old.
On the sidelines Of the aforementioned factors, special attention should also be given to the socialization of dolphins, since most of them do not have a sufficiently large group.Others have been introduced into their pools exemplary of other families, or worse, there are also dolphins who live alone.
All these factors cause stress and anxiety in these intelligent cetaceans, being able to generate a state of chronic stress that acts directly in their immune system predisposing them to suffer various diseases For that reason, more and more organizations are struggling so that dolphins can be taken in captivity to sanctuaries and specialized marine shelters.
S
10 curiosities about dolphins

If you want to read more articles similar to 10 curiosities about dolphins , we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the mu ndo animal.
References
Peter L.Tyack, Studying how Cetaceans use Sound to Explore their Environment , Part of the Perspectives in Ethology book series (PEIE, volume 12 ) Tadamichi Morisaka, Masanori Shinohara, Fumio Nakahara, and Tomonari Akamatsu, Effects of ambient noise on the whistles of indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin poplations , American Society of Mammalogists April 17 2004 Vincent M.Janik, Cognitive skills in bottlenose dolphin communication , Trends in Cognitive Sciences Volume 17 Issue 4, April 2013 R.Smolker, A.Richards, R.Connor, J.Mann, P.Berggren., Sponge Carrying by Dolphins ( Delphinidae, Tursiops sp.): A Foraging Specialization Involving Tool Use? , International journal of behavioral biology Ethology, April 26, 2010 P.Dawn, Behavioral aspects of sleep in pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens, Gill 1865) Issue Online 26 August 2006 McBride, AF,&Hebb, DO (1948). Behavior of the captive bottle-nose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus .Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 41 (2), 111-123.Herman, LM (2006).Intelligence and rational behavior in the bottlenosed dolphin.In S.Hurley&M.Nudds ( Eds.), Rational animals? (pp.439-467).New York, NY, US: Oxford University Press.
Bibliography

  • SOS Dolphins

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Differences between donkey and donkey

Taxonomy or classification of animals can, in many cases, give rise to numerous doubts, since sometimes we are not able to identify if two different nomenclatures refer to the same animal or if instead it is a species and subspecies, for example. Some Animals are known by similar names but are part of different species, others can instead be called by several clearly different names and still be the same species, therefore, there are multiple cases that can confuse us and need to be clarified./p> Surely on some occasion you have wondered what are the differences between donkey and donkey , and in this article of Animals and Pets Online we answer your questions. What differentiates an ass from a donkey? When we talk about donkeys we can all evoke the image of an animal with characteristic long ears and tail endowed with great fur, which has traditionally been expanded as a pack animal.Well, when we talk about donkeys, although we may not know this fact, we are talking about...

How to deworm canaries? - Internally and externally

The canary is a bird that has been bred in captivity for more of 500 years and is especially appreciated for its pleasant and sweet melodies.It is also a sweet and harmonious bird that enjoys the company of its relatives in a large cage. However, on the sidelines of their diet, one of the main cares that we must offer our canaries is grooming, since otherwise they contract parasites that can be very dangerous for their health. Do you want to know how to deworm canaries? In this article we tell you different methods! What parasites affect the canaries? The parasites are one of the most common diseases in the Canaries, which contract them mainly due to the lack of hygiene in the space where they live.If you have canaries it is of vital importance that you maintain a correct cleaning of their cages and utensils, since certain parasites can even cause them death. The most common parasites that affect these birds are: Mites in the canaries : they can stay in the body of the a...

Caring for rainbow fish

The Melanotaenia boesemani , known as a rainbow fish, it is a small fish of lively color from the lakes of Indonesia and New Guinea, but currently distributed throughout the world in captivity.The bright colors of this species, which mix the blue, violet, yellow, red and white, have made it a favorite for home aquariums, where they stand out for their beauty and fast movements when swimming. If you are thinking of adopting one or more of these specimens, you need to know everything related to the comforts that you must offer them, so ExpertAnimal presents this article about the care of rainbow fish . Rainbow Fish Feeding The rainbow is omnivorous and quite gluttonous, so finding food for it will not be a problem.It is recommended to vary dry food with live prey small size.In this way you can offer everything from flakes and granulated food, to larvae and live artemias.Of course, if you do not find live food you can replace it with one that is frozen. These fish do not...

Pneumonia in dogs - Contagion, care and treatment

Surely you've ever heard of pneumonia, a disease that our dogs may also suffer.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will review their symptomatology so that you can recognize it and thus transfer your dog to the veterinarian, who, as always, will be responsible for confirming the diagnosis and establishing guidelines for proper care and treatment . Keep reading this article from Animals and Pets Online to learn more about pneumonia in dogs, infection, symptoms and treatment You can't miss it! What is pneumonia? Basically, pneumonia is a inflammation of the lungs , caused by a variety of causes ranging from infectious agents, such as bacteria, to parasites, foreign bodies or allergens.classified according to the area of ​​the lung that affect, according to the predominant cell class, the cause and the type of reaction they cause in the lung.It is the veterinarian in charge of refining the diagnosis to be able to apply the most appropriate treatment. The ...

National Law of Dangerous Dogs in Argentina

The Argentine Republic does not have a specific law that regulates the possession of potentially dangerous dogs, not at least one legislation that affects the entire important territory of this country. If there is a regulation specifies that it affects the province of Buenos Aires and that it was initially approved in January 2010 through law number 14,107, which contemplated the obligation to register the dog, security measures and containment within the home itself and certain obligations to comply when the dog was taken abroad. Despite the imposition of this law, during 2012 the Luis Pasteur Zoonoses Institute received 6,500 complaints of attacks by dogs produced in the province of Buenos Aires, mainly those attacks occurred in public spaces and the largest number of people attacked were children between 5 and 9 years of age. These data led to reflect on the law in force until that time.momen to, and finally in 2012, law number 4.078 was passed, currently in force, with ...

Bach flowers for cats

In the last few years we hear frequent talk of Bach flowers, also applied to our Companion animals.There are more and more numerous cases treated with this therapy, as well as veterinary professionals who are trained in this discipline.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will focus on cats to discover what Bach flowers are, which These are the benefits and uses they can have for our cats.If you've ever heard of these Bach flowers for cats , you're interested in reading! What are Bach flowers? The 38 extracts of flowers and plants discovered by the English doctor Edward Bach in the early twentieth century are called.This doctor chose plants that acted on different conditions that could experience the human beings, such as fear, sadness, anger or hyperactivity.Prepared these plants in the form of dilutions that conserved with alcohol in a dropper to facilitate their use.Various drops were administered directly several times a day or put in the water or even in t...

Mandarin duck reproduction

The mandarin duck ( Aix galericulata ) is a native bird of the Asian continent , extended especially in China and Japan, which can currently be found in certain regions of England and the United States, either at liberty or as wildlife in ornamental gardens.It is estimated that there are about 66,000 copies. This stationary species weighs almost half a kilo and is recognized for its beautiful colors, although very few people know that only males hold them.Would you like to know why? Then read this article on the reproduction of the mandarin duck . How to distinguish between male and female? Most of the year the female and the mandarin duck machol share a similar coloration , between ocher brown and brownish quite uniform, with some white areas, however, during the mating season the plumage of the male is dressed in bright colors, with the intention of attracting the female. Thus, the colors of the male become bright dark green and red in the area of ​​the head, and in the...

Types of canaries and their names

How many races of canaries are there? At present, more than 30 types of canaries are known , this being the most abundant species of domestic bird in the world with parakeets, although there are many classifications possible, the canary breeds are usually divided into three large groups: Singing canaries : here, we find the most coveted breeds in canariculture, thanks to their incredible ability to learn and play melodies complex and a great variety of sounds.In the next sections we will see the main races of singing canaries. Canaries by color : this, perhaps, is the most basic classification of canaries, based on the color of their feathers.It is divided into subgroups according to the predominant pigments in its plumage, the lipochromic canaries (shades of dominant and recessive white, yellow and red) and the melancholic canaries (colors black, agate, green, bromine, isabela, brown and tona corrugated qualities). The position or position canaries : also called a design or...

Should parrots' wings be cut?

Having parrots at home is very common.They are small pets , colorful and very funny to see in their day to day.However, with the popularity they gain as companions of human homes, the number of people who choose to cut their wings to prevent them from escaping also increases. This practice that may seem common, has its detractors when it comes to thinking about the most beneficial for the bird.Do you want to know if the wings of the parrots should be cut ? Keep reading This article from Animal Expert! How are parrot wings cut? Before telling you whether or not it is advisable to cut the wings of your parrot, it is necessary to explain a little about how the process is carried out and the modifications that it implies in these limbs of the birds. When we talk about cutting the wings, there are two main procedures and some levels in each.The first of these processes is the alectomy , which consists in removing the distal phalanges of the wing and removing the primary feathers ,...

Animals with exoskeleton - Names and examples

The body of the largest vertebrate animals is not a mystery to most of people: it is known that it has a skeleton, internal vital organs (heart, brain, etc.), a dermis of variable and organ characteristics through which the five senses are manifested, among other characteristics. However, have you wondered what the invertebrate morphology is like? Then you need to know all about the animals with exoskeleton, names and examples. Don't miss this Animals and Pets Online article! What is the exoskeleton? The exoskeleton is an external structure that covers the body of various animals, including arthropods.It is characterized by being resistant but flexible .This structure It consists of different substances depending on the subfile to which the animal belongs: chitin for insects and fungi, calcium in mollusks and corals or silica in diatoms among other components. In turn, the exoskeleton is formed by three structures : Cuticle : non-cellular layer secreted by the hyp...