Are you an animal lover?
Join the club! After all, the world is full of amazing creatures, both on land and in the water. This is especially true when it comes to the marine life of the planet.
There’s no denying that dolphins are one of the most beloved creatures found anywhere in the world. These are mammals that rank among the most intelligent species in nature. And the more you learn about dolphins, the more you will appreciate them.
Here we take a look at some fun facts about dolphins you’ve probably never heard. Keep reading to learn more.
1. They Live a Surprisingly Long Lives
Believe it or not, the average dolphin lives between 20 to 50 years. This might not seem like such a long time, but you have to keep in mind that living in the sea isn’t easy. After all, there are predators everywhere.
In order to determine the age of a dolphin, veterinarians have to count the rings inside a dolphin’s tooth. Just like with a tree, each growth ring represents one year of life.
You might also be surprised to learn that dolphins tend to live longer in the wild than they do in captivity even though they are provided with food and protection.
2. They Are Fast Swimmers
If you’ve ever been riding in a boat when dolphins are swimming alongside, then you know that they are incredibly fast swimmers. In fact, the average dolphin can swim more than 20mph, also altho the typical speed is closer to 7 to 9 miles per hour.
3. They Sleep With Half of Their Brain
When dolphins fall asleep in the water, they enter a state known as “unihemispheric slow-wave sleep”. This means they sleep with only half their brains, thus they are able to maintain a regular breathing pattern and continue to monitor their surroundings for potential danger.
Because of this, each side of the dolphin’s brain gets about 4 hours of sleep during each 24-hour period. Unihemispheric slow-wave also helps them maintain the body heat that’s required to survive the frigid ocean temperatures.
4. Dolphins Are Carnivores
That’s right, dolphins eat meat. In fact, their diet includes a wide variety of aquatic life including fish, octopus, cephalopods, squid, and crustaceans, among others.
The type of food each dolphin eats on a daily basis depends on its size. In other words, a smaller dolphin will typically stick to small fish.
Here’s a resource where you can find a save the dolphins t-shirt.
5. They Don’t Have Hir
Next on our list of dolphin fun facts is an interesting tidbit regarding their lack of hair. Although dolphins are born with a few sparse hair follicles, these hairs will fall out soon after birth. This leaves their skin dark, smooth, and rubbery. Their skin also constantly flakes and peels just like humans.
A Guide to Fun Facts About Dolphins
The animal kingdom is filled with beautiful and exotic creatures, from one corner of the globe to another. And yet dolphins have managed to capture a special place in the human imagination. Fortunately, these facts about dolphins help us understand a little more about how special they really are.
Continue exploring the incredible library of articles compiled on this blog to discover more animal-related content.
