What You Should Know About Dolphin Behavior

Dolphins and Their Intelligence

Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures that possess a large brain compared to their size. Only humans have larger brains than dolphins do, so these creatures seem to thrive on complicated tasks. They have a high memory capacity and can follow complex instructions, such as recognizing their reflections in mirrors. Dolphins can identify their own image as well as the reflection of other dolphins. Dolphins also have complex social behaviors. If you're interested in dolphin behavior, here are a few things you should know.

Dolphin's Socialization and Behaviors

A dolphin's socialization is often a collaborative effort. They cooperate in a variety of ways, such as guarding against shark predation, encircling a school of fish, or toying with paddles. They may even take turns feeding. Bottlenose dolphins often take turns feeding, and the pair bonds for life. While some dolphins may not care about this social behavior, some of these animals are known to be territorial.

Swimming with Dolphins

Many people dream of swimming with a dolphin. The sight of a dolphin fin can inspire a person to strip off their clothes and jump into the water. The dolphin's float just a few inches below the surface of the water, but occasionally push themselves to the surface to breathe. These actions can injure a dolphin, so preventing them from doing so is a priority. In addition, dolphins that live with humans are more likely to be hit by boats or drown in an underwater explosion.

Dolphins' Teeth and Diet

Depending on the species, dolphins can have over 100 teeth. Although dolphins do not chew their food, they use their teeth to grasp and swallow prey. Their mouths can hold up to a half-gallon of food. They only eat small to medium-sized fish, but this is the only difference between dolphins and humans. They have the same amount of teeth, but they do not have the same size of mouths.

Interacting with Dolphins

A dolphin can be very social. Dolphins live in pods and form strong bonds. Those who want to interact with dolphins may be interested in taking a dolphin watching tour. They are a wonderful way to learn more about these mammals. During the tour, guests can see dolphins in their natural habitat and interact with dolphin experts. They can learn about dolphin behavior, care, and training from the experts. Dolphins are very intelligent, so learning about the behaviors of the animals will allow you to better protect these majestic creatures.

Dolphins' Adaptability and Challenges

While we're on the subject of dolphins, it's important to remember that these creatures are able to survive without sight. They are able to survive in the dark, due to a layer of fat and blubber under their skin. Dolphins can jump over 20 feet out of the water, which is an extraordinary feat. The ability to stay underwater is an advantage that humans don't have, so be prepared for a long trip.

The Impact of Climate Change on Dolphins

Because of climate change, the oceans are warming up. Some dolphins have begun to migrate to colder regions outside of their historic range. Their primary food sources are also shifting to cooler, deeper waters. Because of this, scientists worry that the animals will not be able to adapt to their new feeding grounds in the long run. This is particularly true for dolphins living in brackish waters. With global warming, dolphins will lose their most productive feeding grounds and could end up stranded with little to no food.