Behavioral Adaptations of a Dolphin

More than 30 species of dolphins live in the world's oceans and rivers, according to the Dolphin's World website. The mammals are part of the cetacean family, which also includes whales and porpoises. Several specific behavioral adaptations of dolphins have made them popular among human beings who flock to SeaWorld and dolphin tourism centers to interact with the large animals, which are known to be very friendly with humans.

  1. Trainee

    • Researchers have found that dolphins are the most intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom and compare them to a 2-year-old human being, according to the website Project Shum. In fact, the Robin's Island website says that the size of a dolphin's brain is comparable to the size of a human brain. Due to their intelligence, dolphins are easily trainable by humans and other dolphins. SeaWorld employees witnessed a dolphin use its blowhole to create a bubble ring that the dolphin played with using its nose to make the ring larger until the air bubble popped. Years later, several dolphins picked up on how to create the entertaining air bubbles.

    Socialite

    • Dolphins live in pods, also known as schools, with other dolphins. Superpods of dolphins can include up to 1,000 dolphins, according to Project Shum. The dolphins communicate with each other through a series of high-pitched clicks and whistles. Dolphins aren't only friendly with each other; they are famously known to approach human beings and even protect them from sharks. Dolphins can also be found pacing boats and other watercraft.

    Hunter

    • Dolphins are shaped like smooth torpedoes that can swim quickly and dive up to 984 feet, according to Cetacean Cove. They can also leap and flip several feet above the water's surface, which Project Shum believes is a method of looking for feeding bird patterns to locate schools of fish. The pods of dolphins work together to find food and herd schools of fish into reefs and sandbars for easy feeding opportunities.

    Navigator

    • Dolphins use echolocation to navigate the vast waters in which they live. By making a clicking sound, dolphins allow the sound to echo off objects which creates a mental picture for the dolphin of where it is going. The Dolphin Communication Project says that echolocation is more important than sight for dolphins because they often hunt in pitch-black environments and search for a mate to breed with that may be several miles away.