Into The Wild: Dolphins, Q&A Report, By Makaila Odoom

 Into The Wild: Dolphins, Q&A Report

By Makaila Odoom

What species are dolphins?

Dolphins are a type of mammal. “Dolphins are small-toothed cetaceans easily recognizable by their curved mouths, which give them a permanent “smile. There are 36 dolphin species, found in every ocean.” (National Geographic.) They are not fish, because they breathe through their lungs and not gills. And they give birth to live babies, they don’t lay eggs. Dolphins are warm-blooded like all mammals, meaning they can regulate their own body temperatures, even when the water around them is cold. Dolphins have lungs, so they periodically need to come to the surface for air. Under their blowholes are nostrils. When dolphins come to the surface they open their blowhole to get a breath of air. They are also born with body hair! ”Did you know that dolphins start life with body hair? Newborn calves have hairs on their rostrum (their beak) that fall out soon after birth.” (Dolphin Facts Plus.) Every mammal has to have hair, and be warm-blooded. This is what makes dolphins mammals!

(Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fascinationwildlife/22394533689)

What do dolphins eat?

Dolphins are a type of whale called toothed whales. They mostly eat fish, squid, and shrimp. Killer whales, or orcas, eat other smaller whales, fish, seals, penguins, birds, and small walrus. Their diet depends mostly on where they live. They have very skillful ways to catch food. “Some of their tactics include herding prey into muddy areas and even catching leaping fish out of the air. They tend to hunt in a group, which makes the foraging process very effective.” (Dolphin Facts Plus)

(Credit:https://oceanographicmagazine.com/features/playing-with-dolphins-bahamas/)

How do dolphins communicate and find food?

“When swimming in formation, dolphins often leap out of the water, which may simply be playful behavior, or it may function as a form of communication.” (Animal). Dolphins can also use echolocation to communicate with other dolphins, and to find food. Echolocation is a built in sonar that bounces sound waves off prey and reveals its location, size, and shape. They also use whistles, clicks and social communication. 

What is a dolphin’s family life like?

“Dolphins live and play together in schools of five, to hundreds of animals.” (San Diego Zoo). A Dolphin’s family is very closely-knit. Dolphins hunt together, and use echolocation to work together and find scrumptious meals. Dolphin pods also work together to help when one animal is sick, hurt, or giving birth. They take turns pushing the hurt, or newly born dolphin to the surface so it can get air. Pods of dolphins will attack an intruder as a group, and can even kill a large shark by ramming it as a group. Because of this, and more, dolphins are considered one of the world’s most intelligent animals. 

What are threats to dolphins?

“For centuries, people have hunted dolphins for their meat and blubber. Today, their main threat comes from being caught accidentally in commercial fishing nets. Dolphins must rise regularly to the surface to breathe—becoming entangled in nets prevents this, leading to drowning.” (National Geographic.) Every day, dolphins face the threat of potentially becoming tangled in a fishing net, which aren’t even meant to catch them. They also face the threat of dams fragmenting and degrading their habitat, oil spills in their home. Pollution in their waters is also a big threat. If the fish they eat is contaminated from polluted water, they will then get sick also. We can stop this problem by not fishing with nets, and not using boats that require gas. The gas will eventually get into the water, thus, polluting it. We can make a difference! Don’t use nets, or boats that require gas. Save the dolphins!!!

(Credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=dolphin%20pod)

Bibliography

Burnie, David, and Don E. Wilson. Animal, DK Publishing, 2017. 

Dolphins Plus Bayside, Inc. “Dolphin Facts: Everything You Need To Know.” DOLPHIN FACTS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW, www.dolphinsplus.com/dolphin-facts-everything-you-need-to-know#are_dolphins_intelligent. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024. 

“Dolphin.” San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Animals and Plants, animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/dolphin. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024. 

“Dolphin Facts.” Animals, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/dolphins. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.