Dolphin Facts for Kids
This page will help you learn more about dolphins.
How many teeth do dolphins
have?
There are dolphins with 8 teeth and there
are some with 250. Bottlenose dolphins
have 72-104 teeth. They only get one set
of teeth for life. Dolphins do not use their
teeth to chew their food like you and I do.
They use their teeth to catch their food
and then they swallow it whole.
Do dolphins drink water?
Dolphins do not drink water like
we do because most of the water
they swim in is saltwater. Yuck!
Instead, dolphins get all of the
water they need from the fish
they eat. They may choose to eat
different types of fish depending
on the amount of calories and
water they need.
Can dolphins see above the
water?
Can dolphins see colors?
They sure can! Bottlenose dolphins have
excellent vision both above and below the
Yes and no. Studies show that
water. When dolphins look at objects
dolphins can see in shades of
under the water, they produce an oily
grey, as well as the blue-green
substance that covers their eyes to protect
spectrum.
them. Dolphins can also see very well at
night, just like cats and dogs.
Do dolphins have hair?
Dolphins are mammals so they must have
hair, right? Well, it is true that they are
mammals, but dolphins only have hair
when they are first born. This hair is
found on the top of the rostrum, which is
the dolphin’s mouth, and falls out within
two weeks. Dolphins do not grow any
other hair for the rest of their lives.
Are dolphins fish?
No. Dolphins are mammals just
like you and I. Dolphins breathe
air, give birth to live young, nurse
their babies with milk, have hair
at some point in their life, and
have a constant body temperature
(are warm blooded).
Fact Sheet
DOLPHIN
BASIC FACTS ABOUT DOLPHINS
Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals and are part of the family of toothed whales that includes orcas and pilot whales. They are found
worldwide, mostly in shallow seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid. Dolphin coloration varies, but they
are generally gray in color with darker backs than the rest of their bodies.
Dolphin, © Kristian Sekulic / iStockphoto © Kristian Sekulic / iStockphoto
Diet
Dolphins consume a variety of prey including fish, squid and crustaceans.
Population
It is difficult to estimate population numbers since there are many different species spanning a large geographic area.
Range
Most species live in shallow areas of tropical and temperate oceans throughout the world. Five species live in the world's rivers.
Did You Know?
Like bats, dolphins use echolocation to navigate and hunt, bouncing high-pitched sounds off of objects, and listening for the echoes.
Behavior
Dolphins are well known for their agility and playful behavior, making them a favorite of wildlife watchers. Many species will leap out of the water,
spy-hop (rise vertically out of the water to view their surroundings) and follow ships, often synchronizing their movements with one another.
Scientists believe that dolphins conserve energy by swimming alongside ships, a practice known as bow-riding.
Dolphins live in social groups of five to several hundred. They use echolocation to find prey and often hunt together by surrounding a school of
fish, trapping them and taking turns swimming through the school and catching fish. Dolphins will also follow seabirds, other whales and fishing
boats to feed opportunistically on the fish they scare up or discard.
Did You Know?
To prevent drowning while sleeping only half of the dolphin’s brain goes to sleep while the other half remains awake so they can continue to
breathe!
Reproduction
Mating Season: Throughout the year, though in some areas there is a peak in spring and fall.
Gestation: 9-17 months depending on the species. When it is time to give birth, the female will distance herself from the pod, often going near the
surface of the water.
Number of offspring: Usually one calf; twins are rare.
As soon as the calf is born, the mother must quickly take it to the surface so it can take its first breath. The calf will nurse from 11 months to 2
years, and after it is done nursing it will still stay with its mother until it is between 3 and 8 years old.
FAST FACTS
Size: The familiar bottlenose dolphin is around 8 feet (2.5m) long and weighs between 440-660 lbs (200-300kg).
Because the forty species of dolphins are so diverse, they range in size. The smallest of the dolphin species, Maui's Dolphin, is around 4 feet (1.2m)
long and weighs around 90 lbs (40 kg). The largest dolphin species is the orca, or killer whale. Male orcas grow to about 25 feet in length and weigh
about 19,000 pounds.
Lifespan: Most dolphins live long lives. The bottlenose dolphin can live over 40 years, and the orca can live to be 70 or 80!
RANGE MAP
http://www.defenders.org/dolphin/basic-facts