Dolphins are mammals, not fish. They breathe air through lungs and give birth to live young.
Dolphins are considered one of the most intelligent animals on Earth, with complex problem-solving skills and social behaviors.
Dolphins use echolocation to navigate and hunt. They emit sound waves and listen for echoes to locate objects.
Dolphins live in groups called pods, which can consist of a few individuals to over a thousand in superpods.
Dolphins communicate using a variety of sounds including clicks, whistles, and body movements.
Bottlenose dolphins are the most well-known and widely distributed dolphin species in the world.
Dolphins are one of the few animals known to have self-awareness, as demonstrated by their ability to recognize themselves in mirrors.
Dolphins rest one hemisphere of their brain at a time and sleep with one eye open to stay alert for predators.
Research suggests that dolphins use unique signature whistles that function like names to identify each other.
Dolphins can reach swimming speeds of over 20 miles per hour for short bursts.
Some dolphin species can live for more than 40 years in the wild, depending on environmental factors and species.
Dolphins are known for their playful behavior, often seen surfing waves, playing with seaweed, or riding boats' bow waves.
Dolphins primarily eat fish and squid, using cooperative hunting strategies to catch their prey.
Dolphins can leap as high as 15 feet out of the water, which may help them spot food, communicate, or play.
Pollution, fishing nets, and habitat destruction are major threats to dolphin populations around the world.