Bottlenose Dolphin Research Paper
explanatory Essay
677 words
A bottlenose dolphin is an endothermic mammal that gives birth to live young. Bottlenose dolphins are the most common and well known type of dolphin. The name bottlenose describes this species of dolphin as they have a short, stubby beak (bottle-like shape). A bottlenose dolphin is a cetacean, which means it is a marine mammal. They are also one of the most-commonly studied cetacean because they live near coasts and adjust well to captivity. It’s Genus and Species names are; Tursiops Truncatus.
A bottlenose dolphin’s pectoral flippers are used to steer and stop. The lobes of the dolphin’s tail are called “flukes”. The dorsal fin helps the dolphin maintain its balance as it swims. Muscles of the back help the dolphin flow through water.
A bottlenose dolphin lives in bodies of water all around the world. They live in groups of 10-30 dolphins which are called “pods”. Some dolphins offshore have been seen in groups of several hundred, these groups are called “herds”. As you can tell bottlenose dolphins are very social.
The endangered status of a bottlenose dolphin is; not endangered. Although they are considered “not endangered” they still have their fair share of problems. Many of the issues they face are a result of human impact on the ocean environment. Such as pollution, fishing gear and boats, and hunting in Japan and Taiwan.
Bottlenose dolphins are carnivores that eat a variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans such as shrimp. They can eat up from 15-30 pounds of food a day. They hunt using echolocation. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary echolocation is a physiological process for locating distant or invisible objects by sound waves reflected back to the emitter from the objects. Bottlenose d...
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...r in its lungs. It opens the flap and starts to breathe just as it reaches the surface. Inhaling and exhaling takes about three-tenths of a second for a bottlenose dolphin.
Similar animals to a bottlenose dolphin include; Whales, porpoises, other species of dolphin. Some people are surprised to learn that the orca (killer whale) is considered a dolphin. There are three subspecies of bottlenose dolphin; Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Pacific bottlenose dolphin, and the Southern Hemisphere bottlenose dolphin. There is also the pink bottlenose dolphin.
As you can tell dolphins in general are very interesting creatures. There are many different ways you can learn about them. As I mentioned in my essay dolphins are fighting pollution and many other issues, and there are ways you can fix them! So help save our oceans there are many beautiful creatures living in the water!
In this essay, the author
- Explains that a bottlenose dolphin is an endothermic mammal that gives birth to live young.
- Explains that a bottlenose dolphin's pectoral flippers are used to steer and stop. the dorsal fin helps the dolphin maintain its balance as it swims.
- Explains that a bottlenose dolphin lives in groups of 10-30 dolphins which are called "pods" and some offshore have been seen in several hundred herds.
- Explains that bottlenose dolphins aren't endangered, but face problems due to human impact on the ocean environment, such as pollution, fishing gear, boats, and hunting.
- Explains that bottlenose dolphins hunt using echolocation, which is a physiological process for locating distant or invisible objects by sound waves reflected back to the emitter from the objects.
- Explains that male and female bottlenose dolphins may have multiple mates throughout the mating and breeding season. males can be aggressive towards each other when it comes to the right mate.
- Explains that bottlenose dolphins are called cows, bulls and calves, and a calf can nurse three to eight times an hour for five to ten seconds. calves can stay with their mother up to six years.
- Describes how a bottlenose dolphin obtains oxygen by breathing through its blowhole, which is located at the top of its head.
- Explains that the orca (killer whale) is considered a dolphin. there are three subspecies of bottlenose dolphin; atlantic, pacific, and southern hemisphere.
- Explains that dolphins are very interesting creatures, and there are ways to learn about them. they are fighting pollution and many other issues, so help save our oceans!
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- The Bottle-nosed Dolphinexplanatory essayThe Bottle-nosed Dolphin is the most studied and generally the best-known species of dolphin. Bottle-nosed dolphins are classified "Tursiops truncates" in scientific name, and belong to the family Delphinidae, in the suborder Odontoceti, order Cetacea.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the bottle-nosed dolphin is the most studied and generally the best-known species of dolphin.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins are intelligent individuals who can jump through hoops 5 meters high because of their powerful tail. they can raise themselves upright out of the water and travel backwards.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins are generally coastal creatures, occurring along almost all tropical and temperate coasts, although offshore varieties also occur.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins feed on shrimp, squid, small sharks, other vertebrates, and fish.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins are an extremely adaptable mammal. they are chubby with a dark gray complexion, while in australian waters, they are thin, light gray.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins mature between the age of 5 to 12 years, and males at 9 to 13 years. they have a multimale, multifemale mating society.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins are dark gray or black above, with a lighter colour on its stomach, which can change to pink in warm water.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins were hunted in the 19th and 20th centuries for their skin, but now are a legally protected species but killings still occur due to angry fishermen.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins communicate by whistles, rasping sounds, and echolocation. they swim with ships for food, which is common for cruise ships.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins have great hearing capabilities, just as we use the power of speech. they respond to tones within the frequency range of 1 to 150 khz.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins have an acute vision both in and out of the water. they have a highly developed tapetum lacidum, which reflects light through the retina, giving them enhanced vision in dim light.
- Explains that the bottle-nosed dolphin's skeletal system originated from the basic mammalian skeleton, but has gone through a number of changes.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins have retia mirablilia and 'wounder nets' to protect vital organs from the effects of water pressure.
1126 wordsRead More - The Anatomy of a Dolphinexplanatory essayDolphins, cousins to whales, member of the family Delphinidae, and an animal that captures the heart of anyone who sees one. This powerhouse of a marine mammal can swim at speeds of up to thirty-five miles per hour and renowned for the fact that they can jump out of the water, a feat meant to both conserve energy and to get places quicker. When they swim, they are as graceful as a swan and as playful as a little child. Well, read on to find out more about these amazing creatures.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that dolphins are cousins to whales and capture the heart of anyone who sees one. they can swim at speeds of up to thirty-five miles per hour and jump out of the water.
- Explains that dolphins have eighty to one-hundred cone-shaped teeth, which are set up in a position to interlock and hold slippery fish in its mouth.
- Explains that dolphins have many ways of defending themselves from predators in the wild, such as pretending to be dead and keeping a lookout for dangers with one eye open.
- Explains that dolphins have three different types of fins on their bodies: pectoral fins, a dorsal fin, and flukes.
- Describes echolocation as a series of high frequency clicks that dolphins send out from an organ in their head called the melon.
- Explains that dolphins have their own language, which is not a spoken language and doesn't have words incorporated into it. they use body language to show emotion when they talk.
- Explains that dolphins live in the ocean and freshwater habitats, while the bottlenose dolphin, spinner dolphin and the orca are all marine mammals.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that dolphins, whales and porpoises are all related. they will talk about evolution, vocalization, behavior, and intelligence.
- Explains that dolphin fossils have been found dating back to 45-50 million years ago, which was during the early eocene epoch era. researchers believe the dolphin went through an amphibious stage, similar to the seals.
- Explains that the early dolphin split into two main species, the toothed whale and the baleen whale. the delphinidae group is where the modern day dolphin arose.
- Explains that modern day dolphins live in rivers and oceans throughout the world. the bottle-nosed dolphin inhibits temperate and tropical waters in the pacific, atlantic, indian ocean and mediterranean sea.
- Explains that dolphins migrate due to the movement of food supply and the change in water temperature. the tucuxi dolphin is the smallest known dolphin.
- Explains that dolphins have a well-developed sense of hearing. the auditory nerve has 67,900 or more cochlear fibers, which is twice as many as the human.
- Explains that a dolphin's sense of sight and touch is well developed. dolphins have taste buds, though they haven't been studied enough.
- Explains that dolphins eat 4% up to 33% of their weight of fish, squid and shrimp daily. they feed by chasing fish onto mud banks and herding prey into clusters.
- Explains that dolphins swim up to 19 miles per hour, with bursts of 35 miles an hour. bottle-nosed dolphins have few members, under twenty, while others have thousands of members in their school.
- Explains that bottle-nosed dolphins can dive up to 1795 feet, while they rarely dive more than 150 feet. they slow their heartbeat while diving, which helps them stay down longer.
- Explains that the dolphin's breath throws a blowhole at the top of their head. they exhale just before reaching the surface, which makes the little splash in the water.
- Explains that dolphins have to be conscious to breathe, which means that they cannot go into a full deep sleep, because then they would suffocate.
- Explains that dolphins reach sexual maturity at different ages. males become sexually mature at 10 to 12 years, and females at 5 to 10 years. the female initiates courtship and breeding.
- Explains that calves are born throughout the year. a dolphin can have a calf every two years, but normally wait three.
- Explains that dolphins identify themselves with a signature whistle. whistles are single-toned squeals that come from deeper in the larynx.
- Explains that sound varies in volume, wavelength, frequency and pattern. the lower frequency is used mainly for social communication and take more energy.
- Explains how dolphins produce clicks that resemble moans, trills, grunts and squeaks. the melon acts as an acoustic lens to focus sound waves into beams — sound travels through the water at 1.5 km/sec.
- Explains that a dolphin's average life span is 25 to 65 years and dies for many reasons.
- Explains that humans have a huge impact on the death of dolphins. they are taken in for food, leather, oil and fertilizer uses.
- Analyzes how pieter arend folkens taught a dolphin to pick up trash in his cage. the trainers went down below the tank, only to discover that the dolphin was stashing trash.
- Explains that dr. javis bastian's experiment found that dolphins can communicate abstract ideas, left and right.
- Opines that society needs to become more aware of the risks that dolphins face each and every day.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus) are one of the most commonly known marine mammals throughout the world. there are two distinct ecotypes: coastal and offshore.
- Explains that the bottlenose dolphin travels in permanent groups based on sex and age. they are sociable and require interactions with other members of their population in order for good health.
- Explains that bottlenose dolphins live primarily in warm, shallow waters, while the offshore ecotype lives in cold, deep water. the coastal populations live in small, fluid groups that tend to have localized movement ranges.
- Analyzes the isotopic differences of a 13c and 15n in the teeth of two separate dolphin populations.
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- Explains that humpback whales are long-distance ocean travelers who migrate between their winter birthplaces in the tropical areas and alaska breeding grounds.
- Explains that humpback whales give birth to their babies and teach them about what to eat, and where they travel to when the seasons change.
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- Explains that james bartley was swallowed by a sperm whale in 1856, he was found in the fore stomach for fifteen hours and died in 1902.
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In this essay, the author
- Presents the group of marine mammals in general and describes the traits that are shared among them and gives them the ability to live in a marine/aqueous environment.
- Describes a group of marine mammals or single species and describes them in further detail.
- Explains that marine mammals are characterized by many shared traits, such as being warm-blooded, having hair or fur, breathing air through lungs, and bearing live young who are nursed with milk.
- Explains that the dugong, the only sirenian marine mammal found in warm coastal waters, has distinct characteristics.
- Explains that dugongs are sparsely haired with dark gray back and a lighter white underside. they weigh about 30 kg and grow to around 1.15 m, with females larger than males.
489 wordsRead More - The Killer Whales: The Habits Of The Killer Whalesexplanatory essayThe killer whales are mammals. They have two common names the killer whale and the ocra. Killer whales inhabit most of the world’s oceans, going from warm waters to freezing cold waters (Monterey Aquarium). Not all of the killer whales are known because their are so many. Orca’s are very social and travel in pods. The whales usually stay with the same pods of whales as they travel.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the killer whale and the ocra are mammals that inhabit most of the world's oceans, from warm waters to freezing cold waters.
- Explains that ocras migrate with their food, and have seasonal migrations. they can eat humans, polar bears, reptiles and mooses to confuse their prey.
- Explains that killer whales have five senses: hearing, sight, touch, taste, and smell. their eyesight is better than any land animal.
- Explains that dna from other species of toothed whales indicates that the eyes do not develop pigment cells called "s-cones," which are sensitive to blue light.
- Explains that a killer whale's average size is 6-10 tons and eats 551 pounds per day, which is 250 kg.
- Explains that if a killer whale's skin is wearing down it can grow back new skin with the exact pattern as before the skin was damaged. killer whales have ears on their head, which helps them hear sounds under water.
- Explains that killer whales can make sounds like whistles, clicks and calls for hunting, moans and squeaking noises. they can travel to one another by loudness and other reasons.
560 wordsRead More - Dolphin Meat Essayexplanatory essayBri Rodolfich Ms. Turner 1123 English 16 May 2014 The Cove In the small harbor town of Taiji, the government keeps a secret; over twenty-three thousand dolphins of all ages are corralled and slaughtered within one of the town’s very own coves every year. Taiji is just three hundred sixty miles away from Tokyo, Japan and lies in a shielded alcove of a bay.
In this essay, the author
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- Explains that there are about twelve boats in taiji armed with the necessary equipment used for the dolphin slaughtering. there are new ways to kill these animals that are far more effective and "human."
- Explains the brutality taken out on the dolphins is nearly unimaginable. they undergo full-body paralysis and are conscious of everything that is taking place around them while their extended families are being murdered.
- Explains that after the documentary "the cove" was released, actions to put an end to these almost daily dolphin slaughters have skyrocketed.
690 wordsRead More - Sperm Whales: Physiology of the Deep Diverexplanatory essayMiller PJO, Johnson MP, Tyack PL, Terray EA (2004) Swimming gaits, passive drag and buoyancy of diving sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus. The Journal of Experimental Biology. 207:1953-1967
In this essay, the author
- Explains that sperm whales must deal with the direct effect of pressure on the volume change of air-filled spaces in their bodies. lung capacities are larger than terrestrial mammals and they must overcome the problems associated with lung collapse.
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- Explains that sperm whales alter their heart rate, metabolism, and oxygen-storing capacity to overcome the issues associated with actively foraging while holding their breath.
- Explains that the larger the animal, the lower its mass-specific metabolism for a given oxygen storage capacity. the ability of sperm whales to make such deep dives may also be due to its waxy oil found in its head.
- Explains that the order cetacea is one of the most distinctive and highly specialized groups of mammals.
- Explains that marine mammals have successfully adapted to their environment through various adaptations, such as diving to deep depths and foraging for food.
- Cites butler pj, jones dr, costidis am, dennison s, falke kj, fernandez a, ferrigno m, fitz-clarke jr, houser ds, jepson pd,
- Explains the swimming gaits, passive drag, and buoyancy of diving sperm whales physeter macrocephalus.
1273 wordsRead More - Killer Whale Research Paperexplanatory essayI chose the Killer Whale (Orcinus Orca) for my project. I selected this animal because I find them very extraordinary and am curious to learn more about them.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that they chose the killer whale (orcinus orca) for their project because they find them extraordinary and are curious to learn more about them.
- Explains that the pakicetus, indohyus and remingtonocetidae were earliest forms of whale ancestry.
- Explains that transient killer whales live off the west coast of north america, ranging from california to alaska. they eat other marine mammals and use little to no echolocation.
- Explains that killer whales are genetically different depending on what kind of food they eat. they reproduce every three to five years and become sexually mature at thirteen to fifteen years old.
- Explains that the decrease in temperature in the transient killer whales environment will make them regulate their body temperature more closely. cold water sinks while warm water floats.
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866 wordsRead More