Dolphins - Pictures, Stories and Facts
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Dolphins - Pictures, Stories and Facts
I have long held a fascination for dolphins. So I am in the process of collecting dolphin pictures, stories and facts and displaying them on this page so that you can get to know these fascinating creatures better. I am also asking you, my reader, to participate in the debate: should dolphins be kept in captivity. Both sides of the argument are welcome to contribute.
Dolphin picture courtesy of ozgary on morguefile
Dolphin picture courtesy of ozgary on morguefile
Table of Contents
- Dolphins under water
- Dolphins are not fish but mammals
- What do Dolphins Eat?
- Dolphin Hunting Techniques
- Dolphins Quick Facts
- Dolphins Swimming and Jumping Pictures
- Spyhopping
- Porpoising
- Bow Riding
- More Dolphin Pictures
- Dolphin Stories
- Dolphin-Assisted Therapy
- Dolphin Saves Stranded Whales
- Dolphins Help Fishermen
- Should dolphins be kept in captivity?
- Prove your point - Dolphins should be kept in captivity
- Prove your point - Dolphins should NOT be kept in captivity
- Ocean Coloring Pages
- Have you ever seen a dolphin up close?
Dolphins under water
Dolphins are not fish but mammals
In this dolphin picture, courtesy of The Pug Father on Flickr, you can clearly see the blowhole on the top of its head.
What do Dolphins Eat?
Dolphins eat primarily fish, but also squid, octopus and cuttlefish. A mature bottlenose dolphin will eat about 33lb (15kg) of fish per day.Dolphin feeding picture courtesy of colleenpence on Flickr.
Dolphin Hunting Techniques
How do dolphins catch fish?
Shaped like torpedoes, dolphins are very fast swimmers. Dolphins around the world have developed different methods for hunting their fish. When we were at Tangalooma, Queensland, Australia, we witnessed the dolphins at night swimming upside-down so that they could see the fish attracted to lights near the surface of the water. Some dolphins use different hunting techniques, including surfing waves, tail slapping to stun fish, and hydroplaning (video 1). Others use another fishing technique - corralling the fish in a fish net made from silt (video 2 and 3).
curated content from YouTube
Dolphins Quick Facts
- Dolphins can swim with speeds of up to 34 miles per hour (55 kph)
- Dolphins propel themselves forward by moving their tail up and down unlike fish which swim by moving their tail side to side.
- The skin of a dolphin is not slimy but silky smooth.
- Dolphins have ears which, from the outside, just look like a small hole in the skin a bit behind the eye.
- Dolphins use sonar, like bats, called echolocation. This enables them to catch fish even in total darkness.
Dolphins Swimming and Jumping Pictures
Spyhopping
A dolphin spy hops to allow it to see above the water.
Porpoising
Porpoising is when a dolphin races along near the surface of the water
making low leaps out of the water.
Bow Riding
Bow riding is when dolphins ride the wave produced at the bow of a fast moving ship. When the dolphin finds the right position, the pressure from the wave will push them along.
Flight
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Dolphin Leaping from Water at the Bow of a Ship, Argentina
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Dolphin Stories
Dolphin-Assisted Therapy
Dolphins help increase the attention span in severely disabled children and adolescents (those with autism, cerebral palsy, downs syndrome or brain damage).
curated content from YouTube
Dolphin Saves Stranded Whales
A dolphin in New Zealand helps rescue a stranded pygmy sperm whale and her calf.
curated content from YouTube
Dolphins Help Fishermen
The dolphins have been helping fisherman in this manner since 1847.
curated content from YouTube
Should dolphins be kept in captivity?
Should dolphins be kept in captivity?
When visiting Tangalooma this year, I was challenged by one of the marine biologists there to think about both sides of this question. Help me decide!
Should dolphins be kept in captivity?
No
crosscreations says:
no-no-no NOT captivity for dolphins!
happynutritionist says:
I lean toward no, but they are happy social animals, and if treated well, maybe it is okay. They sure can't move along like they do in the ocean in captivity though, I'm conflicted. Love you pictures!
Yes
miaponzo says:
Um... if their conditions are really good.. I don't see why not?
Prove your point - Dolphins should be kept in captivity
Feel free to add a link to a relevant website
- Dolphin displays are big business and employ many people
- Enables scientists to do more research, which would otherwise be far too difficult, time-consuming or expensive
- Raises public awareness of conservation issues
- Allows children and adults the opportunity to get close to and appreciate dolphins
Note: All additions are moderated. Only relevant sites will be included.
Prove your point - Dolphins should NOT be kept in captivity
Feel free to add a link to a relevant website
- Dolphins may be stressed or bored in these confines
- They have a very limited space to swim in compared to the the ocean
- Some dolphins die from illnesses
- Dolphins need to eat dead fish instead of catching their own
- In general dolphins live shorter lives in captivity than in the wild
- May encourage cruel dolphin hunts which kill many dolphins including those not "good enough" for the aquariums
Note: All additions are moderated. Only relevant sites will be included.
Facts of Dolphin Captivity
0 points
Ocean Coloring Pages
Have you ever seen a dolphin up close?
Feel free to share your experiences or thoughts about dolphins
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NinaLouder
Mar 30, 2012 @ 7:41 am | delete
- Yes and it's great. Beautiful animal.
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JennySui
Jan 27, 2012 @ 4:41 pm | delete
- No...but i would love to. You have done a great job on this lens.
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Pippi2011
Jan 5, 2012 @ 3:46 am | delete
- No, but I would love to. I think they are great animals.
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crosscreations Nov 29, 2011 @ 6:17 pm | delete
- Yep, swam with dolphins in the wild in Bimini Bahamas.
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hamshi5433
Oct 31, 2011 @ 1:35 pm | delete
- Never seen one in real life but I just adore them! They`re super cute and friendly creatures like the pink sparkling dolphin in barbie mermaid movie :D Definitely learned something new today.
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