Dolphins

WALL STREET GIFTS - The Story of Dolphins

Dolphins are often regarded as one of Earth's most intelligent animals. 40 species of Dolphins range in size from 6 to 31 feet long. A porpoise is NOT a dolphin. The Bottlenose dolphin is the dolphin species most used in shows.

Dolphins are descendants of land-dwelling mammals, even-toed ungulates, from which they split approximately 48 million years ago.

Dolphins have torpedo-shaped bodies with generally non-flexible necks, limbs modified into flippers, a tail fin. Dolphins swim by moving their tail fin and rear body vertically, while their flippers are mainly used for steering. The difference in speed between a seal and a dolphin is big. Seals: 17 mph. Dolphins: 35 mph. Dolphins frequently leap above the water surface. Jumping can save the dolphin energy as there is less friction while in the air.

Dolphins send out high frequency clicks from an organ known as a melon, seen as a large depression on their skull. This allows dolphins to produce biosonar for orientation.This sonar ability is unusual and is used as an example, by the US Navy Seals.

Dolphins have no sense of smell or taste. They can hear as well under water as above. All dolphins have a thick layer of blubber, thickness varying on climate. This blubber can help with buoyancy,

Male dolphins typically mate with multiple females every year, but females only mate every two to three years. Females bear all the responsibility for raising the calves.

One common feeding method is herding, where a dolphin pod squeezes a school of fish into a small volume, known as a bait ball. Individual dolphins then take turns plowing through the ball, feeding on the stunned fish.

Bottlenose dolphins have been found to have signature whistles, a whistle that is unique to a specific individual. These whistles are used in order for dolphins to communicate with one another by identifying an individual. These signature whistles are developed during a dolphin's first year; it continues to maintain the same sound throughout its lifetime.

A dolphin tends to bring a smile to your face – an animal much beloved by us.

At wallstreetgifts.com we offer about 16 dolphin statues depicting this delightful animal. Which do you want?