Dolphin
Fun Facts

Did You Know?

Dolphins are famous for their friendly entertaining nature. You may have seen dolphins perform at an aquarium or one of the more popular theme parks featuring marine life, but there is nothing like watching dolphins experience life in their own natural environment. Even if you have some experience observing dolphins there are some fun dolphin facts that you may not know.

• Bottlenose dolphins are the dolphins that you will most often encounter in the waters surrounding Southwest Florida.
• Bottlenose dolphins are named for their snout that resembles??..you guessed it??..a bottle!
• These swift marine creatures can travel at speeds up to 35 kph. That is equal to over 21mph.
• Only one half of a dolphin’s brain sleeps at a time. This is because the dolphin needs to surface often to breathe and must be conscious to do so.
• Bottlenose dolphins hunt in groups, working together to trap their prey. A group of dolphins is called a pod.
• Dolphins use sophisticated echolocation to help track their prey. Echolocation can tell a dolphin the location, size and shape of their prey. Dolphins can make up to 1,000 clicking noises per second when on the hunt.
• Bottlenose Dolphins have a keen sense of hearing and excellent eyesight but very little sense of smell. The vision and hearing in combination with the sonar clicks made during echolocation make them very effective hunters.
• Are dolphins really greeting you with a smile? It may appear so, and even though dolphins are sometimes friendly and curious, it is the curved mouth of the bottlenose dolphin that gives them the happy, friendly look.
• A mother bottlenose dolphin may take care of her calf for up to six years.