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How dolphins act in the wild vs in captivity
Importance of marine environment
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The bottlenose dolphin, scientifically known as the Tursiops truncates, belongs to the kingdom, Animalia and the phylum, Chordata. The dolphin also falls under the Mammalia class. They are specifically classified in the order, Cetacea and the family, Delphinidae. This dolphin is most closely related to the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, or the Tursiops aduncus. This cousin of the bottlenose dolphin was originally grouped as the same species as the common bottlenose. However, now these dolphins are classified as closely related, but still as separate species. Although the Indo-Pacific bottlenose appears and behaves similarly to the common bottlenose, they have distinct differences. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins are generally smaller …show more content…
Specifically, they are found around the equatorial zone. This zone ranges from below the 45 in the Northern hemisphere and above the 45 in the Southern hemisphere. They are found in the temperate tropical waters of harbors, bays, estuaries, lagoons, and river mouths. Some bottlenose dolphins migrate; however, others have limited home ranges (American Cetacean Society 2006). If there are healthy populations of these dolphins, it indicates a healthy marine ecosystem (Jenkins 2009).
Bottlenose dolphins have several features that have adapted in order to survive in their habitat. They have a spindle body shape that allows them to move quickly through the water. Typically, the dolphins swim at speeds from three to seven miles per hour. When they are not swimming at these routine speeds, they can reach maximum speeds of eighteen to twenty-two miles per hour. If they are swimming at their maximum, or burst, speed, they can only last a few seconds. If they are swimming at routine speeds, on the other hand, they can last for long periods of
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The males will sometimes form temporary alliances with other males in order to find a mate. Otherwise, the males are very aggressive with each other when competing for a female. The females have a gestation period of about 12 months. The calves develop their signature whistle as young as one month which allows them to maintain contact with their mother through their nursing period, lasting twelve to eighteen months, and through the following three to six years in which they learn important tasks for survival. Fortunately, their whistle also gives the location and emotional state of the individual dolphin. These dolphins also protect their injured by holding them at the surface of the water and by protecting them from threats.
The traits and behaviors of the bottlenose dolphin are very unique and often exceed the abilities of humans. Similar to humans, the dolphins have excellent eyesight which allows them to see above and below water. Their hearing, however, is something that exceeds humans and even dogs and cats. Through echolocation, the dolphins are able to have a sound frequency of 120 kHz. Dogs and cats, that have better hearing that humans, only reach 45 kHz for dogs and 65 kHz in cats. Humans with the most extraordinary hearing only have the ability to reach 20
Analysis of "Mirror Self-Recognition in Bottlenose Dolphins: Implications for Comparative Investigations of Highly Dissimilar Species"
One of the most common dolphins that are found in southern California is the bottlenose dolphin (Kelly). The bottlenose dolphin is mainly found in coastal waters between 45 degrees north and 45 degrees south, also in Northern Europe waters. It is believed that there are two types of bottlenose dolphin regional wise: oceanic form and coastal form. This species is studied the most by biologists (Jefferson). The coastal population lives in fairly open groups with twenty or less in a pod, some groups are found to contain more in open ocean. It is not uncommon for these species to interact and breed with other species, as would a human interact with other diverse humans. The dolphins feeding behavior is adapted to the availability of resources. They sometimes are known to work together to catch fish from large schools, they also trail behind large fishing boats to catch what falls behind (Leatherwood).
These whale songs can be heard by humans because Humpback whales usually swim near the coast and sing with a strong voice. Whale songs can be heard in 30 kilometres’ distance.
Imagine a warm day in February, a day that you have been waiting for forever, to see a majestic sea mammal, an orca (commonly known as a killer whale). The show was called “Dine with Shamu”, the orcas were doing amazing tricks and splashing the kids in the front row. After the show was finished, you make your way under the stadium to get a picture with the star of the show, Tilikum. As you wait for him to show himself, a siren goes off and sends everyone into a panic. You look at the crystal clear pool behind the glass, and see Tilikum dragging a women’s body down to the bottom of the pool. Your viewpoint of killer whales is forever changed. These are the kind of situations that should and could be prevented. According to Sally Kestin of the Sun-Sentinel, Mammals actually live longer in the wild then in aquariums. There is a problem with keeping marine mammals in captivity because of Tilikum’s attack on trainers, other various attacks, how the orca industry started and the psychological effects of captivity. The problem could be solved by using sea pens and making more laws protecting marine mammals. According to Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel, Sea pens are enclosures in the ocean that help make killer whales feel more at home.
Orca whales are the largest members of the dolphin family. Orcas are very curious creatures, they like to sky hop, which is when they poke their heads out of the water and look around, and they can also dive to as much as a hundred feet. These social animals live in pods and stay with them for their whole lives. They are so family oriented that they can may sleep together in a tight circle and have synchronized breathing. Orcas can grow up to thirty-two feet and can weigh nine tons. They typically eat five percent of their body weight and are amazing hunters. The lifespan of an orca in their natural habitat is about fifty years. This lifestyle for them is wonderful because they can swim as far as they want to and are free. Orcas should not be held captive because the capture process is dangerous, it is not good for their health, and their trainers are at risk. Free Willy. Dir Simon Wincer. 1993.Video. Warner Bros Home Video
They are the second smartest animal in the world. They nurture their young for most of their lives. They also socialise with any creature, unless they show signs of harm. Dolphins make very popular playmates and will come up to humans for almost anything. They rely on each other to live. They learn quickly and communicate well with one another. God designed dolphins with unique physical features and behaviors in order to glorify Him.
Bottlenose dolphins became part of a United States Navy program in 1959 for the purpose of conducting scientific research into their sonar and hydrodynamics in hopes of getting design ideas for submarines, ship hulls and weapons. It was discovered dolphins hear and navigate in the water by using their natural sonar, which happened to be more precise than most fabricated sonar systems. In the mid-sixties, Navy dolphins were used as mail carriers to underwater laboratories in their home of San Diego, California.
Bottle-nosed dolphins are an extremely adaptable mammal. For example, the Atlantic Ocean form tends to be a little smaller and stockier with a shorter rostrum (nose) compared to the Pacific form. In Scottish waters, Bottle-nosed dolphins are chubby with a dark gray complexion, while the in Australian waters, Bottle-nosed dolphins are thin, light gray appearance, with a dominant circle around each eye. The reason why this dolphin may change its physical appearance is because there may be more fish in Scotland, or the prey may be a slower breed, making the Bottle-nosed dolphin not work as hard for its food, therefore creating a chubbier breed of Bottle-nosed dolphin compared to other parts of the world. Bottle-nosed dolphin have recently been introduced and are now bonding with hum...
Whales are able to perceive sound in a wide range of frequencies from 75 Hz up to 150 Hz. In experimental conditions, where the environment's level of noise is controlled, the whales are more sensitive and hear from 10 Hz to 100 Hz. In addition, smaller whales have a broader range from which they can hear from 10 up to 300Hz. (Unknown2, 2002) Whales depend on sound for communication, navigation, and even detection of predators and prey. The seismic-generated sound waves may disturb critical abilities.
Both sharks and dolphins give birth to live young, but sharks don 't care for their young while dolphins do. Sharks breathe using gills and flow-through breathing while dolphins breathe through a blowhole. One of the most noticeable differences between sharks and dolphins is sharks have vertical tail fins where dolphins have horizontal tail flukes. Dolphins are warm blooded and regulate their body temperature, where sharks are cold-blooded and their body temperature vary with their environment. Sharks have multiple rows of teeth which are constantly replaced throughout their life while dolphins have only a single row of teeth. Sharks are solitary hunters while dolphins are very social creatures and forage and hunt
Cetaceans are thought to be some of the most intelligent species on this planet. Popular culture has embraced the idea of cetacean intelligence with shows such as the 1960s hit TV series Flipper, where a dolphin is used to help fight crime. In his comedic science fiction novels, the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, author Douglas Adams suggests that dolphins are the second most intelligent creatures on Earth, behind mice and above humans. Although most scientists would probably argue that humans are the most intelligent species, the behavior and brain size of dolphins and other cetaceans suggests that they too are intelligent. This paper will briefly describe the reason some scientists believe cetaceans are intelligent species and then give examples of scientific studies, which suggest cetacean intelligence. Since bottlenose dolphins and orcas are the most widely studied cetaceans, the survey of field studies will primarily focus on these two species. At the end, this paper provides an argument of why some scientists discredit the high degree of cetacean intelligence.
Humpback whales breath voluntarily, unlike humans. Since they have to remember to breath, researchers believe humpbacks sleep by shutting off half of their brain at a time. Like orcas and dolphins, humpback whales have noses at the top of their head called blowholes (Animal Planet). Humpback whale calves do not stop growing until they are ten years old (National Geographic). They breed, give birth and care for their newborn calves in the warm waters of Tonga. Instead of teeth, humpbacks have baleen plates, they are brush-like strands of bristle that trap there food until it is swallowed. They have very odd mouths that curve downwards, like an eternal frown. Humpback whales are amazing marine mammals (Big Animal Expeditions)
There are many reasons why dolphins are very intelligent animals, there are 33 different types of marine dolphins, 4 types of river dolphins, and 6 types of porpoises (dolphins are mammals). Some of the dolphinspeople may think they would be whales, because of their looks, but they are dolphins. Dolphins have a strong behavior; they are very social and travel in groups together. They commonly swim in groups of 2-15 . Severalof different groups of dolphins may temporarily join, for several minutes or hours. In the open waters of theocean, some dolphins will leave their group and change associates and adapt with different dolphins threw outtime (Dolphins communication). In the groups, some members will form a strong bond with one another in thepod. The sizes of the groups tend to increase with the water depth of the ocean and the openness of the habitat, this usually happens when protection with strong with each other and foraging st...
When Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins are first born, they are dark gray and get lighter as they grow older, sometimes this will cause spots (WCD). According to Whitfield on page 114, when the Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphin is young it has a normal streamlined body figure, but when it grows older it start to form fatty tissue humps. They have the average lifespan of 40 years (WCD). The Indo-Pacific dolphin can be between 6 ½ feet to 10 feet long with 120 teeth in their long beak. Using their long beak to eat, these dolphins swim up to the shallow waters and hunt for fish (Whitfield 114). Indo-Pacific dolphins are not the only type of dolphins that pray on the