All about Dolphins

According to fossil evidence dolphins have been on earth for 25 million years.

The first recorded studies of dolphins and dolphin behavior was undertaken by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) in The History of Animals.. He was the first to correctly claim that dolphins were mammals. He observed that they bore their young alive and suckled them, breathed air and communicated by underwater sounds.

Dolphins were revered by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and given prominence in works of art. A well-known early depiction is this frieze in the Palace of Knossos, on the island of Crete, from 3,500 years ago. The dolphin's distinctive markings were often depicted on Greek coins.

In mythology, it is said that Apollo first appeared at Delphi, the site of the oracle, in the form of a dolphin. In Greek, Delphi means dolphin. Taras, son of Neptune, founded a city called Tarento on the pot he was carried to safety by a dolphin. It is also said that Telemachus, son of Ulysses, fell into the water as a child. He was rescued by dolphins. Thereafter, Ulysses wore a ring engraved with the image of dolphins. The dolphin was sacred to the Greeks, and they would never dream of harming a dolphin.

In Native American traditions, dolphins symbolized manna or life force. It was thought that the dolphin was the "keeper of the sacred breath of life and was a healing totem used to release emotional tension" (from Dolphins and Their Power to Heal). Totem Power Stones say a dolphin is indicative of kindness, play, and is the bridge between man and ocean.

Dolphins belong to the family Delphinidae. Dolphins possess a distinct beak. Their teeth are conical in shape. Most species of dolphins are larger than porpoises, with the males usually being larger than the females. They have teeth, are warm-blooded, have a four-chambered heart, and nurse their young from mammary glands.

Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals and are part of the family of toothed whales that includes orcas and pilot whales. They are found worldwide, mostly in shallow seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid. Dolphin coloration varies, but they are generally gray in color with darker backs than the rest of their bodies.

As the seas and oceans warm, dolphins are being seen more frequently in colder waters outside their historic ranges. Due to the rapidly rising oceans temperatures, the dolphin’s primary food sources are seeking deeper cooler waters.

To prevent drowning while sleeping only half of the dolphin’s brain goes to sleep while the other half remains awake so they can continue to breathe!

Like bats, dolphins use echolocation to navigate and hunt, bouncing high-pitched sounds off of objects, and listening for the echoes.