What Are Five Interesting Facts About The Animal Dolphins

Dolphins are undoubtedly some of the most admired and well-known sea animals in the world – for good reason! With their cute smiles, incredible acrobatic skills, and likeness to humans, dolphins take defenseless the attention of people for millennia. Despite their popularity, there's a lot that people don't know about these marine mammals. That's why we're serving upwards some of the most fascinating dolphin facts effectually.

Whatsoever scuba diver or freediver that's ever had the opportunity to share the underwater world with a dolphin (or pod of dolphins) volition certainly tell you that is was one of the all-time experiences they've ever had. Warning: these dolphin facts will most probable make you lot beloved dolphins even more you already do.

Here are 10 Fun Facts About Dolphins:

1. Most 40 different dolphin species inhabit the waters of the globe. While most species of dolphins live in coastal areas of tropical and temperate oceans, at that place are five species that alive in freshwater rivers (including the Amazon pink river dolphin).

two. Dolphins are carnivores with a variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans included in their list of casualty. A dolphin that weighs 260 pounds (118 kilograms) eats approximately 33 pounds (15 kilograms) of fish per twenty-four hours.

3. Known for their playful behavior, dolphins are highly intelligent. They are as smart as apes, and the development of their larger brains is surprisingly similar to humans. In fact, they are said to exist the second-most intelligent mammals subsequently humans. Dolphins can recognize themselves in a mirror, and call each other unique names.

four. Dolphins belong to the scientific order called Cetaceans, which also includes whales – their closest relatives. In the Delphinidae (dolphin) family, orcas are the largest species of dolphin.

five. They are highly social animals, primarily living in groups that hunt and even play together. Large pods of dolphins, called 'superpods' can be made upward of 1,000 members or more!

Fascinating Dolphin Facts Continued…

half dozen. These marine mammals requite alive nativity, similar to humans – except the baby is born tail first! Depending on the species, dolphin gestation takes somewhere between 9 and 17 months. After giving birth, dolphins are incredibly maternal. The mother helps the dogie to the surface for its showtime breath, and they've even been observed nestling and cuddling with their young.

7. Depending on the species, dolphin calves (babies) nurse for up to 2 years. A dogie may stay with its mother for anywhere from 3 to viii years.

8. While dolphins have no sense of odour, they brand up for this with their other extraordinary senses. They have acute eyesight both in and out of the water. Dolphins accept a well-developed sense of touch. They hear frequencies 10 times the upper limit of adult humans, and they expertly use dolphin echolocation to locate far away or hidden things using sound waves and echos.

9. Dolphins have few natural enemies. Unfortunately, humans are their primary threat. Polluted habitats, existence caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries, and targeted hunting are the principal threats that face up dolphins worldwide. Sadly, in only 2006, the Yangtze River dolphin became functionally extinct.

10. Because dolphins are mammals, they need to come to the surface to exhale. Unlike state mammals that exhale and eat through their mouths, dolphins accept separate holes for each task. Dolphins eat through their mouths and exhale through their blowholes. This prevents dolphins from sucking up water into their lungs when eating, reducing the risk of drowning.

Ready to Dive In?

If yous honey these dolphin facts and are inspired to notice them in their natural environment, here'due south what we recommend:

If you aren't already, become a PADI Open Water Diver and/or PADI Freediver. Y'all can get-go right now with PADI eLearning, earlier connecting with a PADI Dive Heart to complete your in-water training.
Check out the 10 Best Places to Swim and Dive with Dolphins.
Let the experts at PADI Travel help y'all plan and book your next swoop trip, or employ PADI Adventures to seek adventure in your local area.

Bonus Dolphin Fact!

Dolphins and humpback whales are both known to exist extremely playful with each other. In fact, many scientists believe that the 'surfing' or bow riding that dolphins exhibit in front of boats, may have been inspired by their riding in front of or in the wake of large whales. If you lot honey dolphins, six back and relax while you scout this majestic footage captured in Hawaii of dolphins swimming with humpback whales: