Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals and are part of the family of toothed whales that includes orcas and pilot whales. They are found worldwide, mostly in shallow seas of the continental ****ves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid. Dolphin coloration varies, but they are generally gray in color with darker backs than the rest of their bodies.
Fast Facts
Size: The familiar bottlenose dolphin is around 8 feet (2.5m) long and weighs between 440-660 lbs (200-300kg).
Because the forty species of dolphins are so diverse, they range in size. The smallest of the dolphin species, Maui's Dolphin, is around 4 feet (1.2m) long and weighs around 90 lbs (40 kg). The largest dolphin species is the orca, or killer whale. Male orcas grow to about 25 feet in length and weigh about 19,000 pounds.
Lifespan: Most dolphins live long lives. The bottlenose dolphin can live over 40 years, and the orca can live to be 70 or 80!
Diet
Dolphins consume a variety of prey including fish, squid and crustaceans.
Population
It is difficult to estimate population numbers since there are many different species spanning a large geographic area.
Range
Most species live in shallow areas of tropical and temperate oceans throughout the world. Five species live in the world's rivers.
Did You Know?
Like bats, dolphins use echo******** to navigate and hunt, bouncing high-pitched sounds off of objects, and listening for the echoes.
Behavior
Dolphins are well known for their agility and playful behavior, making them a favorite of wildlife watchers. Many species will leap out of the water, spy-hop (rise vertically out of the water to view their surroundings) and follow ships, often synchronizing their movements with one another. Scientists believe that dolphins conserve energy by swimming alongside ships, a practice known as bow-riding.
Dolphins live in social groups of five to several hundred. They use echo******** to find prey and often hunt together by surrounding a school of fish, trapping them and taking turns swimming through the school and catching fish. Dolphins will also follow seabirds, other whales and fishing boats to feed opportunistically on the fish they scare up or discard.
Reproduction
Mating Season: Throughout the year, though in some areas there is a peak in spring and fall.
Gestation: 9-17 months depending on the species. When it is time to give birth, the female will distance herself from the pod, often going near the surface of the water.
Number of offspring: Usually one calf; twins are rare.
As soon as the calf is born, the mother must quickly take it to the surface so it can take its first breath. The calf will nurse from 11 months to 2 years, and after it is done nursing it will still stay with its mother until it is between 3 and 8 years old.
Dolphin Facts - Konrad Wothe, Minden Pictures/NGS
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Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals and are part of the family of toothed whales that includes orcas and pilot whales. They are found worldwide, mostly in shallow seas of the continental ****ves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid. Dolphin coloration varies, but they are generally gray in color with darker backs than the rest of their bodies.
Dolphin and Human - ScaleFast Facts
Size: The familiar bottlenose dolphin is around 8 feet (2.5m) long and weighs between 440-660 lbs (200-300kg).
Because the forty species of dolphins are so diverse, they range in size. The smallest of the dolphin species, Maui's Dolphin, is around 4 feet (1.2m) long and weighs around 90 lbs (40 kg). The largest dolphin species is the orca, or killer whale. Male orcas grow to about 25 feet in length and weigh about 19,000 pounds.
Lifespan: Most dolphins live long lives. The bottlenose dolphin can live over 40 years, and the orca can live to be 70 or 80!
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Diet
Dolphins consume a variety of prey including fish, squid and crustaceans.
Population
It is difficult to estimate population numbers since there are many different species spanning a large geographic area.
Range
Most species live in shallow areas of tropical and temperate oceans throughout the world. Five species live in the world's rivers. See a dolphin range map >>
Behavior
Did You Know?
Like bats, dolphins use echo******** to navigate and hunt, bouncing high-pitched sounds off of objects, and listening for the echoes.
Dolphins are well known for their agility and playful behavior, making them a favorite of wildlife watchers. Many species will leap out of the water, spy-hop (rise vertically out of the water to view their surroundings) and follow ships, often synchronizing their movements with one another. Scientists believe that dolphins conserve energy by swimming alongside ships, a practice known as bow-riding.
Dolphins live in social groups of five to several hundred. They use echo******** to find prey and often hunt together by surrounding a school of fish, trapping them and taking turns swimming through the school and catching fish. Dolphins will also follow seabirds, other whales and fishing boats to feed opportunistically on the fish they scare up or discard.
Reproduction
Mating Season: Throughout the year, though in some areas there is a peak in spring and fall.
Gestation: 9-17 months depending on the species. When it is time to give birth, the female will distance herself from the pod, often going near the surface of the water.
Number of offspring: Usually one calf; twins are rare.
As soon as the calf is born, the mother must quickly take it to the surface so it can take its first breath. The calf will nurse from 11 months to 2 years, and after it is done nursing it will still stay with its mother until it is between 3 and 8 years old.
Climate Change and Other Threats
As the seas and oceans warm, dolphins are being seen more frequently in colder waters outside their historic ranges. Due to the rapidly rising oceans temperatures, the dolphin’s primary food sources are seeking deeper cooler waters. Scientists are concerned that the dolphins will have difficulty adapting as quickly as necessary to find new feeding grounds to sustain their populations. Some dolphins that live in areas where rivers and oceans meet, known as brackish waters, are also losing habitat as ocean levels are rising due to global warming.
Dolphins also face a number of other threats including marine pollution, habitat degradation, harvesting, low frequency sonar, entanglement in fishing gear, boat traffic.
Did You Know?
To prevent drowning while sleeping only half of the dolphin’s brain goes to sleep while the other half remains awake so they can continue to breathe!
Reasons For Hope
Dolphins are one of the most iconic species of the marine world. With their playful nature and high intelligence dolphins have captivated the hearts of people of all ages from all over the world. Due to their popularity, many countries are researching and monitoring dolphins to ensure their survival. In April 2009 biologists working in Bangladesh found a thriving population of 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins, which were thought to be critically endangered, off the coast as part of a monitoring project started in 2004.
Legal Status/Protection
Endangered Species Act (ESA): The Chinese River dolphin, the Indus River dolphin, and the orca/killer whale are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
CITES: All species of dolphin are protected under CITES. The snubfin dolphin, amazon River dolphin, Indo-pacific humpbacked dolphin and the Atlantic humpbacked dolphin are listed in Appendix I; all other dolphins are listed in Appendix II.
Dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.