Saturday, January 29, 2011

Facts About Dolphins - strangefacts


  • Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.
  • Dolphins are very intelligent and learn quickly. They pick up tricks faster than dogs. Dolphins rank # 2 in animal intelligence behind chimpanzees.
  • Dolphin calves are born tail first and must swim to the surface of the water for air. The mother dolphin will help push her baby to the surface to get that first breath.
  • The spinner dolphin spins on its tail in the air before splashing back into the water.
  • The Dolphin family has 36 species. The largest is the orca, or killer whale at 23 feet long and 4.5 tons. The smallest is the Heaviside’s dolphin, only 3 1/2 feet long and 88 pounds.
  • Some types of dolphins must rise to the surface to breathe every 20 to 30 seconds while others can hold their breath as long as 30 minutes.
  • The Dolphin family has 36 species. The largest is the orca, or killer whale at 23 feet long and 4.5 tons. The smallest is the Heaviside’s dolphin, only 3 1/2 feet long and 88 pounds.
  • The annual global by-catch mortality of small whales, dolphins and porpoises alone is estimated to be more than 300,000 individuals.