What dolphins are there

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However, these traits also apply to other cetaceans — the group of marine mammals that includes dolphins. Other cetaceans include whales and porpoises, and because the sizes and behaviors of cetaceans varies, even between dolphins, distinguishing one group from another has been difficult. One of the biggest reasons for the confusion between cetaceans lies in the classification of these marine animals: A large number of cetaceans fall under the suborder odontoceti , which is a Latin word meaning "toothed whale.

Adding to the problem, for many years "dolphin" and "porpoise" were once considered interchangeable terms. Scientifically, what we refer to as "dolphins" are members of the family delphinidae.

These are distinguished from porpoises and whales because they have a single large dorsal fin midway along the back, eat with conical teeth, and live in large groups with complex social structures, primarily in saltwater environments though exceptions to these rules exist.

Approximately 36 dolphin species are known to marine biologists today, but as we learn more about cetaceans these numbers fluctuate. Dolphin calves tend to stay close to their mothers for a few years before venturing off on their own. However, some calves will stay with their mothers for a lifetime.

Along with gestating their young, dolphins produce milk to nourish them. It may seem tricky for calves to nurse underwater, but dolphins have adapted some special physiological traits to work around this issue. Did you know that dolphins start life with body hair? Newborn calves have hairs on their rostrum their beak that fall out soon after birth This is believed to be an evolutionary remnant from when they lived on land.

Dolphins are considered one of the world's most intelligent animals, and they have several cognitive abilities that set them apart. Many researchers consider intelligence to be a combination of perception, communication, and problem-solving. You can see dolphin intelligence in action in the way they communicate and use tools. Communication is a big part of how dolphins socialize and hunt. They have the ability to echolocate with a series of clicks, allowing them to find other dolphins or similar species and prey even in the low-light conditions of the ocean.

They can do more, too. Did you know that dolphin echolocation allows them to detect surgically implanted metal in swimming humans? This is how dolphins are able to discern that the metal is denser than human flesh, which is mostly water. Dolphins also have a complicated method of communicating with each other. From an outside perspective, dolphins may seem to communicate much like humans.

However, researchers are still investigating both how dolphins communicate and what information they are able to pass to each other. Despite lacking hands, dolphins are adept at using tools. For instance, one of their more specialized tricks is to carry a sponge at the end of their beak, also know as a rostrum. This acts like padding, protecting them from sharp rocks as they dig through the seafloor for food.

Zoological facilities, aquariums, and other places, such as Dolphins Plus , give people a way to learn more about these remarkable animals. The educated professionals who work there can share general information, threats and conservation efforts, and the latest research findings on how these animals cognitively function, communicate, and adapt. These places are both fun for the viewing public and offer a great learning experience. One of the fascinating things about these marine mammals is their complex methods of communication.

So how do dolphins communicate? There are three main ways: whistles, echolocation, and social communication. Dolphins communicate through more than just clicks and whistles.

They can also slap the water's surface with their tail or bodies, which is officially termed breaching. Dolphins can make squeaks, buzzes, whistles, clicks, and a wide array of other crazy noises. These whistles can be heard by others of the species from miles away. Click on the links below to listen to the whistles of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at Dolphins Plus.

Echolocation serves for both communication and for navigation. Echolocation is seeing with sound, much like sonar on a submarine.

The dolphin emits a sound and then listens for the echo as that sound bounces off of objects, these sound waves travel back to the dolphin. Dolphins are able to get much more information out of the sound than humans. This includes the size and shape of objects or obstructions near them and even what material they are made of. There are dozens of species of dolphins and each has their own unique habitats, appearance, and behaviors.

Many dolphins are grey in color, some species have various patterns of black and white, and a few are even pink. In terms of behavior, all species of dolphins are quite gregarious. In fact, many dolphin species can form groups of over 1, individuals, known as super pods! Dolphins come in all shapes and sizes, and each species has their own unique features.

You may not expect to find a dolphin in freshwater areas, but this species thrives in the Amazon River. It's also called the boto or bufeo dolphin and its skin turns pink as it matures. Here's another entry to the list of freshwater dolphins. As you'd guess from the name, this species can be found in the Ganges River in India.

It has a unique habit of swimming sideways, allowing it to sidle up to food. This striking, highly social dolphin species is found off the coast of Argentina and in parts of the Indian Ocean.

It's best known for a panda-like black and white color pattern. Risso's dolphins love deeper waters, where they seek out a diet of squid and other deepwater fish species.

However, their favorite prey fights back and older members of this species may have a mottled pattern of battle scars from squid attacks. Did you know that killer whales are members of the dolphin family? These animals, also commonly called orcas, are the world's largest dolphins. How big are they?

Larger individuals can grow over 30 feet long and weigh 11 tons. They typically have a bold black and white pattern similar to Commerson's dolphin. They use some of the most sophisticated and unusual communications of all dolphin species. In the three years it was studied, it never lost a fight. To keep track of the many different relationships within a large social group, it helps to have an efficient communication system. Dolphins use a variety of clicks and whistles to keep in touch.

Some species have a signature whistle, which, like a name, is a unique sound that allows other dolphins to identify it. Dolphins also communicate using touch and body postures. By human definition, there is currently no evidence that dolphins have a language.

They developed a sign language to communicate with the dolphins, and the results were remarkable. Not only do the dolphins understand the meaning of individual words, they also understand the significance of word order in a sentence. One of their star dolphins, Akeakamai, has learned a vocabulary of more than 60 words and can understand more than 2, sentences. This has the characteristics of true understanding, not rigid training.

Lou Herman and Adam Pack taught the dolphins two further signals. The dolphins responded correctly. Another test of awareness comes from mirror experiments.

Diana Reiss and her researchers installed mirrors inside New York Aquarium to test whether two bottlenose dolphins were self-aware enough to recognise their reflections. The dolphins swam to the mirror and exposed the black mark to check it out.

They spent more time in front of the mirror after being marked than when they were not marked. The ability to recognise themselves in the mirror suggests self-awareness, a quality previously only seen in people and great apes. Not only do dolphins recognise their mirror images, but they can also watch TV.