Dolphins as a Part of the Toothed Whales Family - Research Paper Example

Dolphins have a distinctive beak and their teeth have the shape of a cone. Generally, male dolphins are bigger than the females. Dolphins live worldwide in almost all major seas (mostly shallow seas of the continental shelves) and oceans, and some large river systems. Nevertheless, their circulation is not random – each species of dolphin has become specialized to thrive in a specific niche, and each species of dolphin has a special role in the niche (Earthtrust.org, 1-4, & Defenders.org, 1).

All dolphins are carnivores and while some feed exclusively on cephalopods or fish, the diet of others is more varied and it includes lobsters, fish, crabs, squid, and shrimps. Even though dolphins are said to possess pretty good eyesight, their murky/dark environment usually reduces their visibility. They therefore largely rely on their hearing sense to comprehend the world around them and to look for prey (Earthtrust.org, 12).

They have a large brain (almost the humans’ size) that possesses a remarkable capability of learning and mimicking behaviors (Earthtrust.org, 9). Defenders.org records the fact that dolphins are famous for their dexterity and mischievous character, which makes wildlife watchers love them. They can be seen leaping out of the water, spy-hop/rising out of the water vertically to see their surroundings, and trail ships, mostly synchronizing their progress with each other. Dolphins are believed to preserve energy through bow-riding (swimming beside ships).

Naturally, dolphins are very social animals and they mostly rely on social interaction during reproduction, defense, and hunting. They hunt for prey using echolocation and by surrounding a school of fish, swimming through the school, and catching their prey in turns. They tend to form long-lasting groups, which vary in size from a small number of animals (2-40) known as pods to bigger groups called herds or schools comprising hundreds of dolphins. These groups may comprise several species, each occupying a different niche Dolphins also go after other whales, fishing boats as well as seabirds to feed on the fish they discard or scare up (Defenders.org, 6 & Earthtrust.org, 15).

According to Dolphins.org, many groups of dolphins seem to have strict power hierarchies within each pod, with a few of them being dominant. They may express dominance by such behaviors as tail slapping, teeth raking, ramming, biting, or jaw popping. The feeding order of dolphins, their subgroup formation within the pod, or their positioning may also express status. In most cases, large dolphin groups are mixed in terms of sex and age, while smaller groups can be nuclear (comprising of a single adult female and male; a bachelor group (comprising of younger and adult males); or a nursery group (comprising of several females and young).  All groups of dolphins, despite their type, appear to have strong skills in teamwork and cooperation while hunting, mating, and looking after their young ones (26).

Conclusion

Dolphins are among the marine world’s most iconic species. Among other traits, their popularity and playful nature have always captivated the hearts of individuals worldwide. Regrettably, through fishing activities, people have depleted some dolphin species to the point of extinction. As Dolphin.org records, this is especially so in the Eastern Tropical Pacific as well as in the Black Sea, off the coast of West Africa. There is therefore dire need for governments to renew their commitment to save these and other endangered species and to enact and/or strengthen the Endangered Species Act to protect them.