Dolphins

Author's Note:  This piece was created to write research in a fun and creative way.  It was the first piece I wrote this year, and was also written to better understand the project process.

September 4, 2011 

Dear Friend,

            I have just taken a trip to the zoo.  There are so many exhibits, but I have to say the dolphin exhibit is my favorite, specifically the bottlenose dolphins, also known as the Delphinidae family.  Dolphins are very entertaining and fascinating mammals with all their tail clapping, riding waves, chasing, and leaping out of the water. 

In fact, there is so much more to learn about them.  Do you know that male dolphins are called bulls, the female are called cows, and their offspring are called calves?  Or that bottlenose dolphins travel in groups that are called pods and contain 2-15 dolphins? What a family!

There are so many types of dolphins to learn about.  So, in addition to going to the zoo, I decided to do a little bit of research. These creatures have unique characteristics.  Their brains are bigger than ours, but their brains are the closest in size to our brains. The tail fins are used for moving while the dorsal fin and forefins are used to steer.  Dolphins do not have hair and are coated by a layer of fat.  Because dolphins are mammals, they cannot breathe underwater, but they breathe through their blowhole voluntarily, not automatically like we do. 

  It turns out that there were many more species of dolphins, and they’re all different in some ways.  For instance, that there is more than 30 different dolphin species, and some live in freshwater.  All the different dolphins can have between 8 and 250 teeth.  Maui dolphins are the smallest dolphins, being 4 feet long. Orcas are the largest, with male dolphins being 25 feet long.  The Chinese River dolphin and the Indus River dolphin are endangered.  They are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Dolphins have the same type of diet as most large fish do.  Their preys are fish and crustaceans, but when fish are sparse they will eat squid and nocturnal fish (fish that don’t sleep at night).  Most times dolphins attack their prey with their pod.  The dolphins will herd the fish into open waters and create groups of fish called “food balls”, and eat the fish in the group while some of the other dolphins keep the fish from escaping.  By striking the fish with their tails they can herd the fish into “food balls” and break apart the fish.  A dolphin’s teeth are not used to chew but to hold on to something.  Although, when they are young they feed on their mothers’ milk.  These mammals use echolocation to find their way around and to locate their food.

In conclusion, dolphins vary in size, color, and shape.  As you can see, dolphins are very intelligent and interesting creatures.

Sincerely,

Tien   

Dolphins Bibliography

"AquaFacts." www.vanaqua.org | Vancouver Aquarium. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Sept. 2011. <http://www.vanaqua.org/education/aquafacts/dolphins.html>.

"dolphin, aquatic mammal: Characteristics and Species — FactMonster.com." Fact Monster: Online Almanac, Dictionary, Encyclopedia, and Homework Help — FactMonster.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Sept. 2011. <http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0857792.html>.

"Dolphin Facts - Defenders of Wildlife." Defenders of Wildlife - Protection of endangered species, imperiled species, habitats. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Sept. 2011. <http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/dolphin.php>.

"Dolphin Facts for Kids." Facts about Dolphins. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Sept. 2011. <http://www.dolphins-world.com/Dolphin_Facts_for_Kids.html>.

"Dolphin Smart." Facts about Dolphins. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Sept. 2011. <http://www.dolphins-world.com/Dolphin_Smart.html>.

Walker, Sally M.. Dolphins . Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books, 1999. Print.

"Dolphins: Interview with Research Biologist Daniel K. Odell." Teaching Resources, Children's Book Recommendations, and Student Activities | Scholastic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Sept. 2011. <http://teacher.scholastic.com/dolphin/danint.htm>.

"Feeding methods of Dolphins." tursiops.org . N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2011. <http://tursiops.org/delphius/dolphins_fe.html>.

"Minnesota Zoo." Minnesota Zoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Sept. 2011. <http://www.mnzoo.org/animals/animals_dolphin.asp>

predators, both, and prey alike. When viewed from above the dark dorsal surface. "Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphin Species Profile (Tursiops truncatus)." Dolphin Trainer .com - Marine Mammal Information Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Sept. 2011. <http://www.dolphintrainer.com/

<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4927224/Pink-dolphin-appears-in-US-lake.html>. 

"Welcome to Dolphin Research Center." Swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Research Center Marathon FL, Dolphin and Sea Lion Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Sept. 2011. <http://www.dolphins.org/kids_area_funfacts_dolphins.php>.