14 Apr Interesting Facts About Dolphins

Interesting Facts About Dolphins

You’ve likely heard that dolphins are among the smartest of all animals, but did you know there are 43 documented species of dolphins? When you schedule a Murrells Inlet dolphin tour, you’ll make memories of a lifetime, and you may just learn a thing or two about these friendly marine creatures along the way.

Whether you’re planning the adventure for the kids or the kids at heart, the entire family will agree a dolphin cruise with Blue Wave Adventures tops the list of things to do on vacation. Our team is filled with dolphin and other marine life knowledge that they’ll share as you explore the Atlantic Ocean and all the creatures that call it home. Can’t wait until your Murrells Inlet dolphin tour to learn the unexpected facts about dolphins? We have you covered with these 10 facts.

Dolphin Facts You Didn’t Know

Likely the most familiar of the dolphin family, the bottlenose dolphin, grows to be around 8 feet long and weighs in between 440-660 pounds. While the familiar nose shape may make it the most easily-recognized dolphin, it’s related to the other 42 species of dolphins we mention earlier – 37 of which are marine dolphins and five are river dolphins.

1. Dolphins are meat-eaters. The carnivorous group likes to chow down on herring, cod or mackerel, while others eat squids or other cephalopods.
2. A Baby dolphin, called a calf, is born tail first. It’s the only known animal that isn’t born head first. The calf would drown before being birthed.
3. Despite living in and loving the water, it’s possible for a dolphin to drown. Just one tablespoon of water in a dolphin’s lung could cause the mammal to drown. It takes about two tablespoons for a human to drown.
4. Dolphins know what is around them based on sound. The mammals use their infamous “clicks,” which can travel long distances and bounces of other objects, to let the dolphin know how close the object is, its shape, movement, and texture.
5. It’s no surprise Dolphins can “see” with sounds as they have the best sonar in nature, even better than bats.
6. Because a dolphin breathes through lungs – like a mammal – and not through gills – like a fish – it must sleep near the surface so water doesn’t enter the blowhole. While sleeping, one half of the dolphin’s brain remains active to keep breathing.
7. Dolphins must tell themselves when to breathe. Unlike other mammals, it is not an involuntary action.
8. Dolphins may love fish, but they don’t use any of their 100 teeth to chew. Dolphins do not have the jaw muscles necessary for chewing, so the teeth are only used to catch fish. Then the dolphin swallows the fish whole.

Dolphins are amazing animals that you’ll get to enjoy each time you experience a dolphin cruise tour with Blue Wave Adventures. Enjoy the views of the Atlantic Ocean, dolphins, and other marine life familiar to the Murrells Inlet area. Schedule your dolphin tour today.