Complex Communication.
1. Dolphins boast an advanced communication system involving a variety of vocalizations, body language, and echolocation. Each dolphin has a unique high-pitched whistle used for identification, which is particularly useful for mother-calf communication.
2. Echolocation Abilities Dolphins use echolocation to navigate, hunt, and communicate. By emitting high-frequency clicks and analyzing the returning echoes, they can discern the location and characteristics of objects in their environment.
3. Whales in Disguise Though they are commonly called dolphins, they are technically whales. Both dolphins and whales belong to the Cetacea family, which is divided into toothed whales (including dolphins) and baleen whales.
4. Killer Whales Are Dolphins Despite their fearsome name, killer whales, or orcas, are the largest members of the dolphin family. Orcas are found in every ocean and are known for their wide distribution.
5. Highly Social Behavior Dolphins are extremely social, forming pods of up to several dozen individuals. They engage in cooperative hunting, play, and mutual grooming. They are also known to assist humans in fishing by driving fish towards fishermen in exchange for a reward.
6. Tool Use In Shark Bay, Australia, some bottlenose dolphins use sea sponges as tools. They place the sponges on their snouts to protect them while foraging for fish on the seafloor, showcasing their ability to use objects to aid in their survival.
