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Animal Talk June 2006
(by 30 kinds of dolphins - June 02, 2006)
There are more than 30 kinds of dolphins. Some live in freshwater and
others live in saltwater. Freshwater dolphins live in the rivers of Asia
and South America. While saltwater live in all the oceans of the world.
They eat mainly fish while some eat squid and crabs. Their young are called
calves, the young calves can see, hear and swim on their own at birth.
Dolphins have a streamlined body, a body shaped to move quickly through the
water. A dolphins fins and flippers help them steer through the water with
the help of its tail (fluke), which moves them through the water. Dolphins
breathe through a blow hole, like a whale, which is an opening located on
the top of the dolphins head. They open the blow hole to take in air and
close it when they dive underwater. They must swim to the water¹s surface to
breathe air.
Dolphins communicate with many sounds. A whistle sound, a squeak sound and
clicking sounds. The use of the sounds are used for talking to other
dolphins and to find prey. They rely on their sounds to direct them in the
way they need to swim. It also guides them so they don¹t hit something.
This is called a Echolocation system. Dolphins send out thousands of
clicks, these clicks bounce off of objects, therefore, sends echoes of the
clicks to tell the dolphins of objects, size, shape and speeds that are in
front of them and what direction to go.
Visit your local library and learn more on how dolphins and people share a
special bond and other stories of dolphins helping people.
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