 |
This site was created by |
 |
|
 | |
Created a news section which contains a selection of dolphin news items (click here)
Updated Delphinidae family species text (click here)
Updated Feeding information (click here)
Updated Dolphin intelligence section to include new studies and theories (click here)
Updated section on where to find dolphins to include some species specific information (click here)
Updated social behaviour section to include specific species information (click here)
Updated and added new information to the lifecycle information(click here)
Updated and added new information to the communcication section(click here)
Dolphins exploited for military purposes - Find out more here
Quick Facts
- Unlike most other mammals, whales dolphins and porpoises do not have thick coats of hair to keep them warm. Instead they have a layer of insulating fat, known as blubber which can be as thick as 50cm / 20in.
- Whales, dolphins and porpoises are known collectively as cetaceans from the Latin cetus (meaning large see animal) and the Greek ketos (meaning sea monster).
- There are currently 79 species of cetaceans recognized, but it is likely that more will be discovered in the future.
- They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from tiny dolphins just over 1m/ 39in. to the big Blue Whale, which is typically 25m/ 82ft and is one of the largest animals to have lived on the Earth.
- They live in all the oceans, and many rivers of the world, from the warm waters of the Equator to the cold waters of the poles.
- Cetaceans eat a variety of food. Larger whales feed on shoals of fish or shrimp like creature as like krill. Whereas dolphins and porpoises tend to catch individual fish or squid. Other less common prey includes; octopus, mollusks, polychaete worms, crabs and turtles.
- To breathe when they are asleep, female dolphins lie on the water's surface with their blowholes exposed to the air; males sleep just below the surface and rise to breathe periodically as a reflex action.
- According to research newborn dolphins and killer whales don't sleep for a month.
- Dolphins can live up to 50 years.
- Dolphins can grow up to 4m/ 13 ft in length.
- Dolphins can weigh up to 205kg/ 450 pounds.
- Dolphins can stay submerged for up to 15 minutes.
- Dolphin clicks are short pulses of 300 sounds per second.
- Dolphins can dive to 300m/ 1000 feet.
- Dolphins can swim sustained speeds of 20 mph / 32 kmph ...burst speeds of over 25 mph/ 40kmph.
- 5 species of dolphin can live in fresh water, they are usually named after the river they swim in, such as the Amazon or the Ganges.
Awarded 2001 |
Awarded 2000 |
Awarded 2000 |
 |
 |
 |
 |