How do dolphins communicate?

Dolphins communicate using whistles, clicks, burst pulses, and body language. Each dolphin has a unique signature whistle that functions as a name. They use echolocation clicks for navigation and hunting. Dolphins remember other individuals' signature whistles for over 20 years.

What is echolocation?

Echolocation is biological sonar where dolphins produce clicks and interpret returning echoes to perceive their surroundings. They emit up to 1,000 clicks per second and can detect objects hundreds of feet away, even identifying fish species by size and shape.

How do dolphins sleep?

Dolphins sleep by resting one brain hemisphere at a time while the other stays awake. This unihemispheric sleep allows them to continue swimming, surfacing to breathe, and watching for predators while sleeping. They switch hemispheres every two hours.

What do dolphins eat?

Dolphins are carnivores that eat fish, squid, and crustaceans. They hunt cooperatively using echolocation and creative strategies like herding fish into tight groups or onto beaches. Dolphins have 80 to 100 conical teeth for grasping prey which they swallow whole.

How fast can dolphins swim?

Dolphins can swim up to 20 miles per hour in short bursts. Their streamlined bodies, powerful tails, and flexible skin reduce drag. They often ride waves and boat wakes to conserve energy while traveling at high speeds for extended periods.

Do dolphins have names?

Yes, dolphins develop unique signature whistles that function as names. Each dolphin creates its own distinctive whistle pattern in the first months of life. Other dolphins learn these whistles and use them to call specific individuals throughout their lives.

Are dolphins endangered?

Some dolphin species are endangered while others have stable populations. Major threats include fishing net entanglement, pollution, ocean noise, habitat loss, and climate change. The vaquita and Maui dolphin are critically endangered with fewer than 100 individuals remaining.

Dolphin Facts: Intelligence, Social Behavior & Communication

Discover the remarkable minds of ocean's smartest mammals

Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals known for complex communication, social bonds, and problem solving. They use echolocation to navigate and hunt underwater.

Key Facts

Species Count

About 40 dolphin species

Most Common

Bottlenose dolphin

Weight Range

110 to 1,100 pounds

Length

6 to 12 feet

Swimming Speed

Up to 20 miles per hour

Brain Size

Larger than human brains

Echolocation

Use clicks for navigation

Social Structure

Live in pods

Communication

Whistles, clicks, body language

Diet

Fish, squid, crustaceans

Lifespan

20 to 45 years

Sleep Method

One brain hemisphere at time

Quick Stats

Attribute	Value
Brain to Body Ratio	Second to humans among mammals
Echolocation Range	Up to 600 feet detection
Click Rate	Up to 1,000 clicks per second
Pod Size	Typically 10 to 30 individuals
Dive Depth	Up to 1,000 feet
Breath Hold	Up to 10 minutes underwater
Teeth Count	80 to 100 conical teeth
Gestation Period	12 months pregnancy
Calf Nursing	12 to 18 months

About Dolphin Facts: Intelligence, Social Behavior & Communication

Dolphins have signature whistles that function as names. Each dolphin creates a unique whistle pattern in their first months of life, and other dolphins remember these whistles for over 20 years.

Why Dolphins Sleep With One Eye Open

Dolphins cannot breathe unconsciously like humans. They must consciously surface for air, creating a problem when they need sleep. Dolphins are never fully unconscious.

The Extraordinary Intelligence Dolphins Possess

Dolphin brains have a higher brain to body ratio than any mammal except humans. They recognize themselves in mirrors, demonstrating self awareness found only in great apes, elephants, and magpies. Wild dolphins use tools, carrying marine sponges on their beaks to protect themselves while foraging on rough seafloor.

How Dolphins See With Sound

Dolphin echolocation produces 1,000 clicks per second, with returning echoes creating detailed mental images. This biological sonar is so precise dolphins distinguish between different fish species and detect coin sized objects hundreds of feet away. They can even perceive the internal structure of objects.

The Social Lives That Rival Human Complexity

Dolphins live in fission fusion societies where pod membership constantly changes. Some dolphins form lifelong friendships lasting decades. Males create coalitions of 2 to 3 individuals that cooperate to access females.

Why Baby Dolphins Cannot Sleep

Newborn dolphin calves and their mothers do not sleep for the entire first month after birth. They remain constantly active and alert, swimming continuously. This happens because calves lack the blubber needed for buoyancy and would sink if they stopped swimming.

The Conservation Crisis Killing Dolphins

Fishing nets kill thousands of dolphins annually through bycatch. The vaquita porpoise numbers fewer than 10 individuals, functionally extinct. Maui dolphins have fewer than 100 left.

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Did You Know?

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Dolphins sleep with one brain hemisphere at a time so they never lose consciousness

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Each dolphin has a unique signature whistle that functions as its name

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They can remember other dolphins' signature whistles for over 20 years

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Dolphin brains are larger than human brains relative to body size

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They use echolocation clicks up to 1,000 times per second for navigation

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Dolphins recognize themselves in mirrors showing self awareness

Frequently Asked Questions

Dolphins are among the most intelligent animals with brain to body ratios second only to humans. They show self awareness, use tools, solve complex problems, understand symbolic communication, and transmit cultural knowledge. Their cognitive abilities rival great apes.