As the namesake of Dolphin Blue, here are a few fun facts about dolphins:
- They can jump up to 30 ft.
- They can have between 80 - 250 teeth
- Dolphins can consume up to 30 lbs of fish per day
- They have the ability to hear 10 times better than humans
- Dolphins live in social groups from five to several hundred
- Their pregnancies can last from 9-17 months depending on species
- They can live up to 60 years
- Dolphins communicate using clicks, whistles, and other vocalizations
To get an idea of how all of these skills work together in tandem, take a look at southern Africa's sardine run that occurs every year between May and July. Each summer hoards of sardines swim north along the African coast where dolphins, sharks, and other wildlife wait to feed on them. Earth-Touch created this infographic to visually illustrate how dolphins hunt during this unusual phenomenon, employing all of their many talents with great efficiency.
With all of these offensive capabilities, Dolphins are also able to successfully defend and kill attacking sharks. For instance, killer whales are the largest member of the dolphin family and routinely defend their pods from sharks, with sometimes only one whale versus several sharks. However, dolphins use their skills for more than their own gain; they seem to have a remarkable capability for altruism. There are several widely publicized stories of dolphins taking heroic action to save humans and even dogs.
But there's more! It is theorized that dolphins have very high intelligence with their brain mass to body ratio rivaling that of humans. For instance, dolphins, elephants, and apes are the only animals tested that can recognize a reflection in a mirror by demonstrating preening behaviors. What divas!
It is important for us to keep the earth and the oceans clean to promote such fascinating aquatic wildlife. Check out our products for new ways to stay eco-friendly.