Dolphin

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For other uses, see Dolphin (disambiguation).

A bottlenose dolphin

A dolphin is an aquatic mammal within the infraorder Cetacea. Dolphin species belong

to the families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river
dolphins), Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (the brackish dolphins),
and the extinct Lipotidae (baiji or Chinese river dolphin). There are 40 extant
species named as dolphins.
Dolphins range in size from the 1.7-metre-long (5 ft 7 in) and 50-kilogram (110-
pound) Maui's dolphin to the 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in) and 10-tonne (11-short-ton) orca. Several
species of dolphins exhibit sexual dimorphism, in that the males are larger than
females. They have streamlined bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers.
Though not quite as flexible as seals, some dolphins can briefly travel at speeds of 29
kilometres (18 mi) per hour or leap about 30 feet (9.1 m).[1] Dolphins use their conical
teeth to capture fast-moving prey. They have well-developed hearing which is adapted
for both air and water. It is so well developed that some can survive even if they are
blind. Some species are well adapted for diving to great depths. They have a layer of
fat, or blubber, under the skin to keep warm in the cold water.
Dolphins are widespread. Most species prefer the warm waters of the tropic zones, but
some, like the right whale dolphin, prefer colder climates. Dolphins feed largely on fish
and squid, but a few, like the orca, feed on large mammals such as seals. Male dolphins
typically mate with multiple females every year, but females only mate every two to
three years. Calves are typically born in the spring and summer months and females
bear all the responsibility for raising them. Mothers of some species fast and nurse their
young for a relatively long period of time. Dolphins produce a variety of vocalizations,
usually in the form of clicks and whistles.
Dolphins are sometimes hunted in places such as Japan, in an activity known
as dolphin drive hunting. Besides drive hunting, they also face threats from bycatch,
habitat loss, and marine pollution. Dolphins have been depicted in various cultures
worldwide. Dolphins occasionally feature in literature and film, as in the film series Free
Willy. Dolphins are sometimes kept in captivity and trained to perform tricks. The most
common dolphin species in captivity is the bottlenose dolphin, while there are around
60 orcas in captivity.
 Contents

 1Etymology
 2Hybridization
 3Evolution
 4Anatomy
o 4.1Integumentary system
 4.1.1Blubber
o 4.2Locomotion
o 4.3Senses
 5Intelligence
 6Behavior
o 6.1Socialization
o 6.2Reproduction and sexuality
o 6.3Sleeping
o 6.4Feeding
o 6.5Vocalization
o 6.6Jumping and playing
o 6.7Tail-walking
 7Threats
o 7.1Humans
 8Relationships with humans
o 8.1In history and religion
o 8.2In captivity
 8.2.1Species
 8.2.2Controversy
 8.2.3Military
 8.2.4Therapy
o 8.3Consumption
 8.3.1Cuisine
 8.3.2Health concerns
 9See also
 10References
 11Further reading
 12External links

Etymology
The name is originally from Greek δελφίς (delphís), "dolphin",[2] which was related to the
Greek δελφύς (delphus), "womb".[2] The animal's name can therefore be interpreted as
meaning "a 'fish' with a womb".[3] The name was transmitted via
the Latin delphinus[4] (the romanization of the later Greek δελφῖνος – delphinos[2]), which
in Medieval Latin became dolfinus and in Old French daulphin, which reintroduced
the ph into the word "Dolphin". The term mereswine (that is, "sea pig") has also
historically been used.[5]
The term 'dolphin' can be used to refer to most species in the
family Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins) and the river dolphin families Iniidae (South
American river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (La Plata dolphin), Lipotidae (Yangtze river
dolphin) and Platanistidae (Ganges river dolphin and Indus river dolphin).[6][7] This term
has often been applied in the US, mainly in the fishing industry, to all
small cetaceans (dolphins and porpoises) are considered to be porpoises,[8] while the
fish dorado is called dolphin fish.[9] In common usage the term 'whale' is used only for
the larger cetacean species,[10] while the smaller ones with a beaked or longer nose are
considered 'dolphins'.[11] The name 'dolphin' is used casually as a synonym
for bottlenose dolphin, the most common and familiar species of dolphin. [12] There are six
species of dolphins commonly thought of as whales, collectively known as blackfish:
the orca, the melon-headed whale, the pygmy killer whale, the false killer whale, and the
two species of pilot whales, all of which are classified under the family Delphinidae and
qualify as dolphins.[13] Although the terms 'dolphin' and 'porpoise' are sometimes used
interchangeably, 'porpoise' usually refers to the Phocoenidae family, which have a
shorter beak and spade-shaped teeth and differ in their behavior. [12]
A group of dolphins is called a "school" or a "pod". Male dolphins are called "bulls",
females called "cows" and young dolphins are called "calves". [14]

Common dolphin

Bottlenose dolphin
 Spotted dolphin

Atlantic spotted dolphin

Commerson's dolphin
 Dusky dolphin

Orca

Amazon river dolphin

Hybridization