15 Dolphin Facts: Things You (Probably) Didn't Know
Dolphins are fascinating creatures. While they are beautiful and charismatic animals, they are also highly intelligent and intuitive as well. Their biological, social and cultural complexity means there are some truly remarkable dolphin facts out there; facts you may not have known.
Dolphin Fact #1 - Dolphins Have No Sense of Smell
Dolphins are famous for their exceptional hearing, with the ability to use echolocation to bounce soundwaves off objects and prey to map out their environment. Despite these skills, dolphins lack the olfactory nerves required to smell. And, while they do have the ability to taste, they can only taste salt.
Dolphin Fact #2 - Dolphins Give Each Other Names
Research suggests that dolphins have names. A behaviour also exhibited in whales, dolphins use unique calls and whistles to identify each other and communicate. Scientists have conducted tests through which they play these calls to dolphins. When their unique ‘name’ is used, the dolphin responds.
Dolphin Fact #3 - Dolphins Can Recognize Themselves in a Mirror
Dolphins are one the rare few animals - along with the likes of humans, chimps and elephants - that can recognize themselves in a mirror. This trait of self-awareness strongly correlates to higher forms of intelligence. Interestingly, a baby dolphin can recognize itself as young as 7 months, while human babies are typically around 18 months.
Dolphin Fact #4 - Dolphins Swallow Their Prey Whole
Dolphins all have teeth - every species. However, they don’t chew their food. While they use their teeth to catch and trap prey, once in the mouth, dolphins swallow their meal whole.
Dolphin Fact #5 - Killer Whales Are The Largest Species of Dolphin
Orca are actually the largest species of dolphin. Despite their name, killer whale, they belong to the dolphin family. The name killer whale refers to their hunting habits as ‘killers of whales’. Like other species of dolphin, they use echolocation to hunt prey.
Dolphin Fact #6 - All Dolphins Are Actually Whales
Every species of dolphin is considered a whale. Dolphins are an animal family under the order Cetacea, meaning whales. Baleen whales and toothed whales are found under the Cetacea order. Dolphins are a type of toothed whale, but differ from some other toothed whales including beaked whales, sperm whales and porpoises for a number of reasons, although mostly anatomical, including beaked noses, body size and shape, and the shape of their blowholes.
Dolphin Fact #7 - There Just Under 40 Species of Known Dolphin
In total, there are 37 species of dolphin found around the world today. They are:
Common Dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin
Right Whale Dolphin
Tucuxi Dolphin
Costero Dolphin
Indo-Pacific Hump-backed Dolphin
Chinese White Dolphin
Atlantic Humpbacked Dolphin
Clymene Dolphin
Spotted Dolphin
Spinner Dolphin
Striped Dolphin
Rough-Toothed Dolphin
Chilean Dolphin
Commerson’s Dolphin
Heaviside’s Dolphin
Hector’s Dolphin
Risso’s Dolphin
Fraser’s Dolphin
White-Sided Dolphin
Dusky Dolphin
Hourglass Dolphin
Peale’s Dolphin
White-Beaked Dolphin
Australian Snubfin Dolphin
Irrawaddy Dolphin
Melon-headed Whale
Killer Whale (Orca)
Pygmy Killer Whale
False Killer Whale
Pilot Whale
Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis
Burrunan Dolphin
Australian humpback Dolphin
Amazon River Dolphin
Ganges River Dolphin
La Plata Dolphin
Dolphin Fact #8 - The Largest Pod of Dolphins Was 100,000 Strong
Typically, a pod of dolphins ranges from 5-20 animals. Sometimes, the ‘super pod’ has been witnessed, with 1000s of dolphins found within the pod. On a few rare and exceptional occasions, a pod of over 100,000 dolphins has been seen off the coast of San Diago, California. These sightings occurred in 2012 and 2013, with scientists having no explanation as to why a pod of such a gigantic size would have been formed.
Dolphin Fact #9 - Dolphins Sleep by Switching Off Half Their Brain
Dolphins sleep either near the surface or in shallow water, rising regularly to breathe. They may be motionless, or they may swim gently through the water. A sleeping dolphin is also conscious and aware to prevent drowning and threats from predators. They do this by sleeping only half of their brain at any one time. The other half stays awake at a low capacity, capable of waking the dolphin up to completely if needed without external stimulus.
Dolphin Fact #10 - You’ll Find Dolphins All Over the World
You’ll find most species and populations of dolphins patrolling the surface of deep ocean waters or along rich coastlines as the hunt for prey. Dolphins can be found in every sea on our planet, and even some rivers and streams. You’ll find dolphins in bays, harbours, gulfs, river basins, estuaries, reefs and most-all open water environments. The only large bodies of water you will not find dolphins are closed lakes (lakes with no prominent body of water leading to the sea).
Dolphin Fact #11 - There are Freshwater and Saltwater Dolphins
Most species of dolphin live and thrive in saltwater environments, but one species is actually found in freshwater. The Amazon River dolphin - otherwise known as Boto or pink dolphin - is found exclusively in a freshwater habitat spanning a large section of South America.
Dolphin Fact #12 - Dolphins Use Bubbles as a Hunting Strategy
Known as mud ring feeding, this technique involves dolphins working together to disorientate their prey and create barriers of bubbles that force fish to the surface. Observed only in Florida, bottlenose dolphins use mud ring feeding to scare their prey into leaping from the water in an attempt to escape, only to jump into the waiting mouths of the hungry dolphins.
Dolphin Fact #13 - Dolphins Have ‘Funerals’
Dolphin culture is intricate and diverse. Dolphins have been observed displaying some very ‘human’ behaviours, including mourning lost family members and holding funeral-like rituals. Witness reports and even videos highlight how dolphins will sometimes bring their dead before a congregation of the pod, seemingly in an act of grief to allow the entire community to mourn.
Dolphin Fact #14 - Dolphins Give Each Other (And People) Gifts
Dolphins have regularly been observed giving gifts to others, including bits of coral, shells, seaweed, branches and other bits and pieces they can scavenge. While this behaviour is not fully understood, scientists do believe it's part of an exchange behaviour in dolphin culture, as well as a way of attracting a mate. For example, male dolphins are known to bring sea sponges to females they are trying to mate with, while dolphins in Australia have been seen giving a variety of items to humans to trade for food. Another theory is that this is just a random behaviour designed to entertain bored dolphins, as gifted items can be used as part of games and play.
Dolphin Fact#15 - Dolphins Love to Surf
Wild dolphins have been observed surfing coastal waters. They catch waves, ride the crest and jump through the surf. There is no reason that dolphins are believed to do this other than social bonding and entertainment. While some theories include using the rushing waters to clean off parasites or hone their swimming skills, the dolphin species love of play, matched with its intellect, suggest surfing for them is the same as it is for us, a leisure activity.
If you love dolphins, and want to swim with dolphins, then read our ethical wild guide to find out the best way to get in the ocean with these animals!
