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• Closely related to whales, dolphins are intelligent marine mammals that inhabit oceans virtually world wide. Of the 36 dolphin species, the orca, or "killer whale," is the largest at about 23 feet long; the Heaviside's dolphin, about 3¹/₂ feet long, is the smallest.San Diego Zoo: Mammals: Dolphin

• Fast Facts

  1. Diet: Fish, squid and crustaceans
  2. Life span: Depending on the species, 20-90 yearsSan Diego Zoo: Mammals: Dolphin
  3. Swallow their food wholeAnimal Window: Dolphin Information
  4. Born tail firstAnimal Window: Dolphin Information
  5. 2007 was deemed the "Year of the Dolphin" by the United Nations Environment ProgrammeOfficial Website: Year of the Dolphin
  6. The "Year of the Dolphin" was extended into 2008
  7. Can be trained by humans to perform tricks

• Social Performers

  Dolphins live in loosely associated groups known as pods, which may consist of anywhere from five to several hundred individuals. They work together to hunt prey and use several different vocalizations to locate and communicate with one another. Dolphins are the fastest of all marine mammalsSan Diego Zoo: Mammals: Dolphin and can leap up to 16 feet out of the water.National Geographic: Bottlenose DolphinDolphins have been observed swimming alongside boatsSan Diego Zoo: Mammals: Dolphin, surfing with humans and working together to help injured or newborn pod members.Dolphin Research Center: Natural History

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Whales | Orcas | Discovery Cove | Coral Sea | Gulf of California | Ganges River Dolphin | Greenpeace | Universal Studios Tickets | Sea World Tickets | Discovery Cove Tickets | Wet N Wild Tickets | Busch Gardens Tickets | Adventure Island Tickets | Dolphin Cruises Tickets

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