Fun Things to Know about Dolphins

It is easy to be fascinated by the ocean. You can sit on the beach and watch the waves for hours as they come in and go out; that can be very relaxing. The sounds of the water are soothing and the colors beautiful. Recreation is a primary focus of the ocean for most people; however, there is so much to learn about what lives under the water and the role it plays in the environment. This is not only true for adults, but kids can become much more knowledgeable by attending marine biology camps, that create a fun learning experience. A very popular resident of the ocean is the dolphin. Below is just a taste of what your child might learn about them.

Interesting Facts about Dolphins

• Dolphins are aquatic mammals. There are over 30 species that live all over the world. The majority of these do live in the ocean, but 5 types live in rivers. Bottlenose dolphins are the most recognizable member of this family. You have probably seen them in aquariums, movies, or sea parks. They live naturally in temperate and tropical oceans. You may see them as you sit on the beach or as they follow you while you travel on a boat. They are powerful swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 7 minutes. They do have to come to the surface to breathe and that is one time that you might catch a glimpse of one. They have excellent vision and incredible hearing. You can hear them communicate in high-frequency clicking noises.
• Dolphins come in different sizes. They can range from 4 feet to 30 feet long. The largest dolphin is most commonly known as a killer whale. Did you know that? That orca is technically not a whale at all, but part of the dolphin family. They live all over the world, both in the Arctic and Antarctic, and in between.
• Dolphins can hear at a range 10 times above humans. Their hearing is done primarily through vibrations in the dolphin's lower jaw. They have an organ in their head called a melon which collects sound, similar to a big radar dish. They use clicks and whistles to communicate and this process also helps them to locate their prey through echoes.
• You might wonder what dolphins eat. They are big carnivores, meaning that they eat only meat. Most of the time they will eat fish and sometimes other marine animals like squid. The larger dolphins, like the orca, will eat other mammals as well such as seals. It is a fact, though, that dolphins and humans get along well and you don't hear of dolphin attacks.
• It is true that dolphins are a very social animal. They communicate with each other and can often be found in large groups in the wild. They get together to hunt but also to have fun! They may travel in small groups or even up to 1,000 at a time will be together. These groups are called pods, or in the case of the big party, a super pod! They enjoy having company.
• There are specific examples of dolphins and humans working together to fish. This happens today in areas of Brazil, Laguna, and Santa Catarina. The dolphins will follow the fishing boats and basically herd schools of fish to them. Once the fishermen have caught the fish in their nets, they will share the bounty with the dolphins by throwing them their share. What a partnership that is.

These are just a few facts about an incredible marine mammal. There are so many other kinds of marine life that can be studied. If your children are interested in these things, you may want to consider having them participate in some kind of marine biology camps. What a great way to spend some time this summer!

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