The relationship between humans and dolphins is a strong one, so strong in fact that some people refer to dolphins as “man’s best friend of the sea.”

Photo by Viviane Frost

SO MANY DOLPHINS TO SEA
When people think of a dolphin the image that usually appears is that of the Bottlenose Dolphin smiling and doing back flips. What may surprise people is that there are about 40 different species of dolphin living in the ocean. These creatures are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves. They live in groups of up to a dozen individuals called pods. A dolphin’s body is usually gray with a light underside. They can also have different patterns of lines and patches on their body. In many species, the jaws are elongated, forming a beak. Some species like the Bottlenose have a curved mouth, which looks like a smile. They are also carnivorous, eating mostly fish and squid.

WANT TO PLAY A GAME
Dolphins are considered to be one of the most intelligent animals in the world. They have a large brain with a highly structured cortex. Some have said that they are as intelligent as a two year old human. Dolphins have a unique way of communicating by using a variety of clicks, whistles and other vocalizations. Their acrobatic leaps out of the water are believed to be a sign of communication or play. Play is an important part of a dolphin’s life. They can be seen playing with seaweed or play-fighting with other dolphins. Dolphins also seem to enjoy riding waves and are frequently seen surfing coastal swells and the bow waves of boats.

WORKING HAND AND FIN
Because of the dolphin’s high intelligence, they have been employed by humans for a number of purposes. Dolphins work with autistic and other disabled children. The military have used dolphins to find mines or rescue trapped people. Researchers in Australia have also discovered tool-use among dolphins. The animals break off sponges and put them into their mouths to protect themselves when hunting for fish on the seabed.

Resources for this article provided by wikipedia.org