The dolphin | Facts & Information

Origin

We meet them all over the world, especially in the shallow seas of the continental shelf. The family Delphinidae is the largest of the cetacean order and one of the most recent; Dolphins evolved 10 million years ago.

Dolphins are the most intelligent animals and often their friendly appearance and playful attitude made them popular.

Their name is derived from the Greek word delphus meaning "fish with belly button".

Dolphin Feed

Dolphins are carnivorous mammals, with special adaptations for the predatory type of feeding. Analyzing the stomach contents Dolphins consume, on average, 8 to 20 kg of fish daily. There are various methods of feeding dolphins.

Fish and squid are their main food. The group of dolphins enclose fish in shallow waters so they can catch them more easily.

In general, the Black Sea dolphins feed on fish and focus on the shoals of fish (plaice, turbot, anchovy, sprat, horse mackerel). That is why hunting is necessary in groups, and success depends on good coordination and communication.

As for the sense of taste, anatomical studies have shown that on the tip and sides of the tongue there are special formations, which receive gustatory excitations (taste buds). Thus, Dolphins have the ability to perceive the difference in taste from sweet to salty, acidic and sour.

Dolphin Appearance

Dolphins have a fusiform organism adapted to fast swimming. The tail fin, called the "fluke", is used for propulsion, while the pectoral fins along with the tail give the dolphin the ability to have directional control.

The dorsal fin gives them stability while they swim. Although different depending on the species, the basic color is gray with different shades, often with many different color lines and spots in contrast. The head contains the so-called biological sonar (a device also used by submarines found in only a few animals).

Many species have distinctive elongated beak-shaped jaws. For example, the Bottlenose species has a curved mouth that shows a fixed smile. Some species have up to 250 teeth. Dolphins breathe through a hole located at the top of their head.

The brain of dolphins is large and complex and its structure differs from that of many animals. Unlike most animals, Dolphins have no hair, except for a few hairs that they lose shortly after birth.

Males have two slits in the lower body that hide the penis and anus. Females have only one covering both the anus and vagina.

Most species of dolphins have exceptional eyesight, they can see both in water and on land very well. I can also hear frequencies ten times higher than people.

It is believed that the ears of dolphins are connected with the jaw, and with biological sonar; in the water the sound is led to the middle ear.

It is believed that the teeth are used as an antenna that captures the receiving sound for the exact location of an object. The sense of touch is also well developed.

Nerve endings are in the skin, especially around the muzzle, pectorals and genital area. With all these enviable qualities it is believed that Dolphins lack olfactory sense (smell).

Dolphin Behavior

Dolphins are considered to be the most intelligent animals on Earth, it is difficult to say exactly how intelligent. The behavior of the dolphin has been intensively studied both in captivity and in the wild.

They are social animals that generally live in groups of 10-15 individuals. In areas with abundant food groups unite to form a large group that can surpass individuals (rarely).

They communicate through various whistles, whistles and other vocalizations. They can establish strong social bonds, stay with sick or injured peers by helping them breathe by pushing them to the surface. They often protected people by chasing Sharks.

Dolphins like humans engage in disputes on various topics: disputes between companions, competition for females, etc.because of this on the bodies of adults still appear scars.

In the Black Sea we meet three species of dolphin: porpoise, phocena and sea pig. About 2,300 specimens of all three species were monitored in the Black Sea.

Dolphin Breeding

Copulation in dolphins happens face to face, more precisely they glue their bellies and engage in long foreplay. Sexual intercourse is usually short and can be repeated several times in a short period of time.

The gestation period varies depending on the species and is approximately 11-12 months. For orca it is about 17 months.

Orca is the largest species of dolphin. I will dedicate a whole lot to this wonderful animal when time permits. Dolphins usually become sexually active at an early age, even before reaching adulthood.

The age of sexual maturity varies by species and gender. Dolphins are known to have sex for reasons other than breeding. Various species engage in sexual intercourse sometimes with other species and there are cases in which some partners become violent. The average life of dolphins is 20-30 years.