NATIONAL DOLPHIN DAY!

NATIONAL DOLPHIN DAY!

Ok, we’re a day late celebrating these amazing aquatic mammals, but better late than never! Dolphins are members of the toothed whale family and their largest member is the Orca- we bet you didn’t know that! We’re celebrating dolphins by featuring one of the better known dolphins- the Bottlenose Dolphin! Come learn about these amazing and intelligent creatures!

Have you ever spotted dolphins at the beach?

MEET THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN!

   Range/Habitat: Oceans worldwide, except for the polar regions

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, mollusks, crustaceans

   Length/Weight: 6 ¼- 13 ft/ up to 1,110 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

• Bottlenose dolphins are very social and live in complex groups.
• Bottlenose dolphins use echolocation to catch prey- similar to our bat friends!
• They make many different whistles and clicks to communicate with each other. These vocalizations are still be studied and understood by scientists.
• Each dolphin has a signature or individual whistle that identifies them, like we have names.
• They use tools. One group of dolphins has been seen using sponges to protect their noses from stingrays and stonefish as they look for prey.
• Bottlenose dolphins are able to recognize themselves in a mirror.
• They learn behaviors from their mothers and other dolphins.
• Bottlenose dolphins have been taught to understand sign language.
• They also use many different cooperative hunting techniques.

Researchers are really just beginning to understand the depths of their intelligence, both in institutions and in the wild. We sure wish we knew how to speak dolphin! Squeak, click, whistle!