Dolphins

*What do dolphins look like' Dolphins have a streamlined fusiform body which has been adapted by evolution to swim fast. Most species have gray skin tones, although there are a few with black stripes, spots or even huge parts like the killer whale. Dolphins have no hair, which is one common characteristic of most mammals. Dolphins have a large fin at the top which helps them for balance and direction. *How do dolphins communicate' Dolphins communicate through sounds and whistles. There are several kinds of whistles which are used by dolphins. Some species of dolphins can send the identity information through a signature whistles. Whistles also coordinate the group hunting which make feeding much easier for dolphins than doing it alone. Burst pulsed sounds are also made by dolphins with the purpose of communication, although there is not enough knowledge about dolphin communication. *How do dolphins catch their food' Dolphins catch their food mainly using two clever techniques which require a highly coordinated team job. Herding The first one is called herding and it is performed by a group of dolphins who surround a school of fish to pack them as tightly as possible. When this is done, dolphins take turns to go through the school and feed one at the time while the others keep the school fo fish as packed as possible. This guarantees that each pass through the school of fish, will be very efficient and the largest amount possible of fish will be taken. Corraling The other technique for feeding used by dolphins is called corralling. This is used when the school of fish is chased by a group of dolphins to shallow waters where they are trapped between the shore and the group of dolphins who push them there. After this, the fishes are easily catched when dolphins take turns to eat. *How do dolphins sleep' Dolphins sleep very different than most land mammals in a way that dolphins are not totally unconscious when they sleep. Research have shown that only half of dolphin's brain sleep at a time, leaving the other part, fully aware of dangers. Besides being aware of dangers, dolphins need to be conscious to breathe. This means that they cannot go into deep sleep because they could drown. *How do dolphins mate' Like most mammals, humans included, dolphins tend to express their sexual attraction by using their senses such as: rubbing, biting, etc. When a male is attracted to a female, they will use certain sounds such as: clicking, informing the female of his intentions. When the female, who has responded with either body language or vocal sounds, she will usually allow the male to approach her. Sometimes, she may even allow more than one male to court her and/or mate with her. The next step is touching each other. Both male and female rub each other's body, especially on the slit, which covers the genitals, as well as on the dorsal fin. As they become more passionate, they tend to bite the fin, sometimes leaving scars or cuts. This kind of seduction ritual can last quite a long time. When the female is ready to mate, she will either swim on the surface of the water or swim on her side to allow the male to mate with her. This process is very brief as it lasts only a few seconds. As you can see, these marine mammals are capable of passion. Like I mentioned earlier, the female dolphin can accept the attentions and affection of more than one male at a time but it has also been witnessed that since males are quite aggressive when in the mood that they do not always mate with the consent of the female. *How do dolphins raise their young' After born, small dolphins are nursed by their mothers, feeding them with milk produced by the mother. Another dolphin usually helps the mother to deliver the calf and to take care of it during the initial years. Calves stay with their mothers until they are 6 years old, giving them enough time with their mothers to learn the necessary skills to survive.