The dolphin is a toothed whale that is related to the porpoise. The dolphin has a long, streamlined body; some species have a prominent beaklike snout. The dolphin travels in schools and can swim at a speed of up to 25 mph. After a gestation period of one year, the female gives birth to one young. The young suckles (or nurses) for up to two years. Dolphins are intelligent, playful animals.Dolphins
One of their favorite things is to surf the waves created by boats. They emit a varietyof sounds to communicate with other dolphins. Like other toothed whales,they use echolocation (which is like sonar) to avoid obltacles and to locate prey. There are 37 species of dolphins. The best-known North American species are the common dolphin, the bottle-nosed dolphin, and the killer whale.
The common dolphin is found mostly in the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic. It is about eight feet long including a six-inch snout. The common dolphin is brownish-black above with dark flippers and snout. Its belly is white in color. There are bands or stripes of tan or yellow on the sides. The common dolphin travels in schools of up to a thousand or more individuals. It feeds mainly on fish.
The bottle-nosed dolphin or bottlenose, is found in warm and temperate North American coastal waters. It is dark gray above with lighter underparts. The bottlenose can reach up to 12 feet long and has a three-inch snout. The bottle-nosed dolphin feeds on fish, squid, and crabs. They can be trained to perform at zoos and aquariums. They are also used in research on animal communication and learning.
The killer whale is found in all seas. It is black above and has a white belly. There are white patches above the eyes and on the flanks. The killer whale is about 30 feet long with a blunt snout and a long, pointed dorsal fin. The killer whale feeds on fish, seals, marine birds, and other species of whale. Although killer whales can be aggressive, they have been trained to perform at zoos and aquariums.
Dolphins belong to the family Delphinidae. The common dolphin is Delphinus delphis; the bottle-nosed dophin,Tursiops truncatus; and the killer whale,Orcinus orca.
