SOCIAL GROUPS

• Bottlenose dolphins live in groups called pods. A pod is like a social group of dolphins. There are different sizes of pod groups. Pod groups change with water depth and habitats. A pod often fights for social classes. Bottlenose dolphins maintain dominance by biting, chasing, jaw- clapping, and smacking their tails on the water. During courtship, dolphins engage in head-butting and tooth-scratching. The dolphins hunt together.

BEHAVIOR

• Dolphins frequently ride on  waves. Dolphins have been seen jumping as high as 4.9 m (1 6 ft.) from the surface of the water and they land on their backs or sides. All dolphins play together by chasing one another, carrying objects around, or tossing seaweed to one another.