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Fascinating Facts About Dolphins
by Joshua Plansden
http://www.adolphinsfan.com

A lot of people consider dolphins to be one amongst the fish
- as they swim in the water. But in reality unlike fish who
lay eggs, dolphins are warm-blooded mammals that give birth
to baby dolphins and breathe air. There are many more unique
characteristics that make dolphins an interesting creature
on the earth.

If you're ever had the opportunity to be near a dolphin
you'll understand why they are as unique as they are.
Dolphins, just like whales, are considered to be cetaceans
and are part of the grouping of whales that are called
odontocetes, which means that they have teeth. The teeth
found on a dolphin are shaped like cones. Other whales fall
into the group called mysticetes, in which case they don't
have teeth to use for feeding.

Dolphins live in tropical and warm waters. Many people are
unaware of the fact that rivers and freshwaters are also
home to few species of dolphins. These dolphins are however
endangered and exist in very few numbers.

In total there are approximately 57 different species of
dolphins swimming in the waters of world today. The dolphin
is a sleek looking creature that has a long beak- like nose.
This characteristic nose is called a "rostrum". Many people
make the mistake of confusing the dolphin and the porpoise
as the same type of animal. This is far from true. One of
major differences between the dolphin and the porpoise is
the shape of their teeth. The teeth of the dolphin are
shaped liked cones while the teeth of the porpoise are
shaped much like spades, making them perfect for digging
among rocks. Another big difference is that porpoises live
in water that is colder than that which dolphins can
tolerate.

Orcas are the most easily identified and best known
dolphin. They are more commonly known as killer whales.
People tend to think of the Orca as among the most violent
and frightening sea animals. This is probably due to the
fact that they are large and seem fearless in the water.

Female dolphins are pregnant for twelve months before
delivering their babies, or calves as they are known. The
calves weigh between 30 and 40 pounds and are about 30
inches long. They will nurse from their mothers until they
are two years old.

Young dolphins tend to stay close to their mothers for
around five to seven years, which is a very long time when
compared to other animals. In other animal species, the
siblings leave the mother very soon after birth and are on
their own. The young dolphins while staying with their
mothers learn the nuances on how to pull on with the other
dolphins and also how and where to look for their food.

Dolphins live in groups known as "pods" and travel
together. The females interact with the young, while the
males keep more to themselves and don't participate in
parenting.

Dolphins are amazingly intelligent and curious. These
traits make them intriguing to us, along with the fact that
dolphins love to interact with humans. They are always
ready to tell us all about what's going on in the waters
around us, but unfortunately we aren't able to understand
them.

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