DolphinsDolphins

THE BEAUTIFUL THE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES OF THE SEACREATURES OF THE SEA

My Personal Passion for My Personal Passion for DolphinsDolphins

I have had a strong passion all my life for dolphins. I have had a strong passion all my life for dolphins. As a child, my family and I went to Florida every July As a child, my family and I went to Florida every July and I always insisted my parents take me to see and I always insisted my parents take me to see them. October of 2005, I went to Sea World in San them. October of 2005, I went to Sea World in San Antonio Texas. There, I was able to feed and pet Antonio Texas. There, I was able to feed and pet dolphins. I hope to make another trip to the dolphins. I hope to make another trip to the Hawaiian Islands and swim with the dolphins. Hawaiian Islands and swim with the dolphins.

Interesting Facts About Interesting Facts About DolphinsDolphins

There are 57 species. Five of There are 57 species. Five of these species can live in fresh these species can live in fresh water.water.

Man is the greatest predator.Man is the greatest predator.

Their life span can exceed 20 Their life span can exceed 20 years.years.

They renew their lung capacity They renew their lung capacity 90% with each inhalation 90% with each inhalation (humans only renew their lung (humans only renew their lung capacity 15%). This allows capacity 15%). This allows dolphins to dive for 20 minutes at dolphins to dive for 20 minutes at a depth of 300 meters with each a depth of 300 meters with each inhalation. inhalation.

Sleep is 8 hours per day. While Sleep is 8 hours per day. While sleeping, only ½ of the brain is sleeping, only ½ of the brain is used. They sleep for awhile with used. They sleep for awhile with one eye open; alternating one eye open; alternating between open eyes. between open eyes.

128 km can be traveled in one 128 km can be traveled in one day.day.

An average dolphin (depending An average dolphin (depending on species) will eat 15-100 on species) will eat 15-100 pounds of food a day.pounds of food a day.

Click here to learn more!Click here to learn more!

Common DolphinCommon DolphinThe common dolphin averages 7.5 to The common dolphin averages 7.5 to 8.5 feet and weight can reach up to 8.5 feet and weight can reach up to 297 pounds. This dolphin lives in all 297 pounds. This dolphin lives in all tropical & warm temperature waters. tropical & warm temperature waters. Can be seen at the Southern Can be seen at the Southern California Bight. California Bight.

White Sided DolphinWhite Sided DolphinThere are 2 species of the White Sided Dolphin. The Atlantic There are 2 species of the White Sided Dolphin. The Atlantic White Sided dolphin and the Pacific White Sided dolphin. White Sided dolphin and the Pacific White Sided dolphin. Pacific White Sided dolphins can be seen from the Aleutian Pacific White Sided dolphins can be seen from the Aleutian Islands of the Gulf of Alaska to Baja, California in the Islands of the Gulf of Alaska to Baja, California in the eastern Pacific and from Japan to the Kuril Islands in the eastern Pacific and from Japan to the Kuril Islands in the Western. The Atlantic White Sided dolphin lives off of the Western. The Atlantic White Sided dolphin lives off of the eastern United States, from northernmost Florida and eastern United States, from northernmost Florida and stretches up the Atlantic Ocean to the Davis Strait off stretches up the Atlantic Ocean to the Davis Strait off Greenland. People often mistake this species of dolphins for Greenland. People often mistake this species of dolphins for the Bottlenose dolphin when they are on a cruise ship and the Bottlenose dolphin when they are on a cruise ship and notice dolphins swimming along with the ship. They are the notice dolphins swimming along with the ship. They are the fastest swimming breed in the dolphin world.fastest swimming breed in the dolphin world.

Philosophers have stated dolphins are another form Philosophers have stated dolphins are another form of humans…sounds CRAZY…let’s take a look!of humans…sounds CRAZY…let’s take a look!

Dolphins vs. HumansDolphins vs. Humans

PhysicallyPhysically

• Anterior appendages consist of skeletal Anterior appendages consist of skeletal remnants of 5 digits that form the remnants of 5 digits that form the flippers.flippers.

• They must breath air.They must breath air.

• Their body temperature must be Their body temperature must be maintained at 97.9 to 99 F.maintained at 97.9 to 99 F.

• Newborn calves must be pushed to the Newborn calves must be pushed to the surface immediately after birth for air.surface immediately after birth for air.

ParentingParenting

• Mother and calf remain together for life. Mother and calf remain together for life.

• Mothers will babysit for one another.Mothers will babysit for one another.

• To allow the calves to play safely, To allow the calves to play safely, mothers will form a playpen area buy mothers will form a playpen area buy forming a complete circle around the forming a complete circle around the calves.calves.

• Children are disciplined with various Children are disciplined with various clicking sounds. clicking sounds.

SocializingSocializing

• Dolphins call other dolphins by name. Each Dolphins call other dolphins by name. Each dolphin has a unique sound that allows dolphin has a unique sound that allows other dolphins to know who they are other dolphins to know who they are talking to.talking to.

• They stay in pods of 50 because they don’t They stay in pods of 50 because they don’t like to feel isolated and alone.like to feel isolated and alone.

• Being with humans is very enjoyable for a Being with humans is very enjoyable for a dolphin.dolphin.

• When a group of dolphins meet another When a group of dolphins meet another group; a ceremony occurs with all of them group; a ceremony occurs with all of them leaping, chasing, and touching.leaping, chasing, and touching.

Thank YouThank YouThank you for sharing my passion for Thank you for sharing my passion for dolphins. I hope I have peaked your dolphins. I hope I have peaked your interest to the point you will begin interest to the point you will begin your own research. your own research.