Anatomy
Male Dolphin
Male Dolphin Erection
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Female Dolphin
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Basic information on dolphins, especially bottlenose.
Senses
Echolocation
Echolocation is a dolphin’s primary sense. This can be compared to sonar, in that it functions the same way. The dolphin sends out a stream of focused sound waves which bounce off objects and are picked up by the lower jaw and ear openings behind the eyes. While this functions like sonar, dolphins can produce an image many times better than our best sonar technology can. Dolphins can essentially “see” with sound, and can even analyze the internal structure of some objects.
Sight
Dolphins have unique horseshoe-shaped pupils that allow them to see equally well above and under water. When underwater, the eye focuses light, while above water it contracts to provide a sharper image.
Smell
Dolphins are not known to have any sense of smell. The blowhole has no olfactory sensors and is underwater, closed, most of the time anyway.
Taste
Dolphins can detect salty, sweet, sour, and bitter tastes, but this has not been well-studied.
Communication
Each dolphin has their own unique signature whistle, which is basically a name. While no dolphin language has been found yet, dolphins have been observed using whistles to keep in touch with those around them and to avoid aggression.
IntellegenceMany scientists agree that dolphins are the second-most intelligent animals on this planet, right below humans. They have been found to be able to recognize themselves in a mirror (so they have a sense of “me” or “I”). Some have conjectured that dolphins are self-aware, an idea that is most likely correct given the current research.
They are also able to learn behaviors from other dolphins. One famous instance of this is an aquarium dolphin that taught itself how to tailwalk. Once released into the wild, it was found that other dolphins learned to tailwalk from that dolphin, whereas no dolphin before had been observed tailwalking.
Some dolphins help fishermen round fish into nets. As payment, the dolphins get to keep the fish that escape. This has been observed in many places around the world.
Sexuality and ReproductionDolphins are very sexual creatures. They often have sex for reasons other than reproduction, and sometimes engage in homosexual activity. Dolphins have sex belly-to-belly, and while there is often lengthy foreplay, the actual act of penetration is brief. The normal gestation period for dolphins is eleven to twelve months. Birth is usually aided by another dolphin, sometimes male.
Dolphins have also been known to engage in sexual activity with other species, such as humans.
Senses
Echolocation
Echolocation is a dolphin’s primary sense. This can be compared to sonar, in that it functions the same way. The dolphin sends out a stream of focused sound waves which bounce off objects and are picked up by the lower jaw and ear openings behind the eyes. While this functions like sonar, dolphins can produce an image many times better than our best sonar technology can. Dolphins can essentially “see” with sound, and can even analyze the internal structure of some objects.
Sight
Dolphins have unique horseshoe-shaped pupils that allow them to see equally well above and under water. When underwater, the eye focuses light, while above water it contracts to provide a sharper image.
Smell
Dolphins are not known to have any sense of smell. The blowhole has no olfactory sensors and is underwater, closed, most of the time anyway.
Taste
Dolphins can detect salty, sweet, sour, and bitter tastes, but this has not been well-studied.
Communication
Each dolphin has their own unique signature whistle, which is basically a name. While no dolphin language has been found yet, dolphins have been observed using whistles to keep in touch with those around them and to avoid aggression.
IntellegenceMany scientists agree that dolphins are the second-most intelligent animals on this planet, right below humans. They have been found to be able to recognize themselves in a mirror (so they have a sense of “me” or “I”). Some have conjectured that dolphins are self-aware, an idea that is most likely correct given the current research.
They are also able to learn behaviors from other dolphins. One famous instance of this is an aquarium dolphin that taught itself how to tailwalk. Once released into the wild, it was found that other dolphins learned to tailwalk from that dolphin, whereas no dolphin before had been observed tailwalking.
Some dolphins help fishermen round fish into nets. As payment, the dolphins get to keep the fish that escape. This has been observed in many places around the world.
Sexuality and ReproductionDolphins are very sexual creatures. They often have sex for reasons other than reproduction, and sometimes engage in homosexual activity. Dolphins have sex belly-to-belly, and while there is often lengthy foreplay, the actual act of penetration is brief. The normal gestation period for dolphins is eleven to twelve months. Birth is usually aided by another dolphin, sometimes male.
Dolphins have also been known to engage in sexual activity with other species, such as humans.
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