Dolphin BehaviorDolphin Behavior Dolphins are playful and gregarious Dolphins are playful and gregarious

creatures.creatures. Most of the time, males and females Most of the time, males and females

live in separate pods.live in separate pods. During pregnancy, other females During pregnancy, other females

will keep the “mother” company.will keep the “mother” company. Live in social groups.Live in social groups.

APPEARANCEAPPEARANCE

• Dolphins may have a fishlike form, Dolphins may have a fishlike form, but they are NOT fish.but they are NOT fish.

• Dolphins have built in grins.Dolphins have built in grins.

• They have dorsal fins on top of their They have dorsal fins on top of their bodies.bodies.

Other Facts…………Other Facts…………

• Dolphins are in many stories for their Dolphins are in many stories for their dolphin/human interactionsdolphin/human interactions– Prehistoric engravingsPrehistoric engravings– Aesop’s fablesAesop’s fables– Ancient Greek coinsAncient Greek coins

All of these depict dolphins helping All of these depict dolphins helping humans.humans.

Ancient Greek philosopher/scientist Ancient Greek philosopher/scientist Pliny wrote:Pliny wrote:

• ““The dolphin is friendly to man and is charmed by The dolphin is friendly to man and is charmed by music, by harmonious instruments, and music, by harmonious instruments, and particularly by the sound of the hydraulic organ. particularly by the sound of the hydraulic organ. He does not regard man as a hostile being, but He does not regard man as a hostile being, but swims forward of ships, leaps playfully around swims forward of ships, leaps playfully around them, runs races with them and no matter how them, runs races with them and no matter how full the sails, always outdistances them.”full the sails, always outdistances them.”

HabitatHabitat

• They inhabit every ocean on Earth.They inhabit every ocean on Earth.

• Most prefer warmer coastal waters, while some Most prefer warmer coastal waters, while some live in cold water or even freshwater rivers.live in cold water or even freshwater rivers.

Interesting facts……Interesting facts……

• Dolphins move tails up and down Dolphins move tails up and down while fish move their tails from side while fish move their tails from side to side.to side.

• Their flippers have all the bones of a Their flippers have all the bones of a mammalian arm, wrist, hand, and mammalian arm, wrist, hand, and finger. finger.

More facts……….More facts……….

• Dolphins can swim up to 20 mph and Dolphins can swim up to 20 mph and can leap can leap more than 15ft more than 15ft in the air.in the air.

• They can live 40-50 years.They can live 40-50 years.

Eating and dietary habits.Eating and dietary habits.

• Active predatorsActive predators

• They eat a variety of squid, fish, and They eat a variety of squid, fish, and crustaceans like shrimp.crustaceans like shrimp.

• Varies by locationVaries by location

• Coastal: bottom-dwelling fish and Coastal: bottom-dwelling fish and crustaceanscrustaceans

• Offshore: squid and fishOffshore: squid and fish

Senses……Senses……

• Acute sense of hearingAcute sense of hearing

• Acute vision in and out of waterAcute vision in and out of water

• Particularly adapted sight for under Particularly adapted sight for under waterwater

• Little is known about tasteLittle is known about taste

• May not have sense of smellMay not have sense of smell

• Sensitive to touch around blowhole and Sensitive to touch around blowhole and eyes and mouth.eyes and mouth.

CreditsCredits

•http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/bottlenose/index.htm

• Google images for picturesGoogle images for pictures