Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a common reason dolphins breach the surface of the water?
What is a common reason dolphins breach the surface of the water?
Which of the following weights is a dolphin likely to exceed?
Which of the following weights is a dolphin likely to exceed?
What term describes a group of dolphins living together?
What term describes a group of dolphins living together?
Where does the Amazon river dolphin prefer to live?
Where does the Amazon river dolphin prefer to live?
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In which step do dolphins manage to trap their prey during hunting?
In which step do dolphins manage to trap their prey during hunting?
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How do spinner dolphins communicate while hunting?
How do spinner dolphins communicate while hunting?
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What environmental change occurs when bottlenose dolphins hunt?
What environmental change occurs when bottlenose dolphins hunt?
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What is a key similarity in hunting techniques between bottlenose and spinner dolphins?
What is a key similarity in hunting techniques between bottlenose and spinner dolphins?
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To which family do dolphins belong?
To which family do dolphins belong?
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What word describes the ability of dolphins to maintain their body temperature?
What word describes the ability of dolphins to maintain their body temperature?
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What is the term for the action when dolphins leap out of the water and flip?
What is the term for the action when dolphins leap out of the water and flip?
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How high can a bottlenose dolphin jump out of the water?
How high can a bottlenose dolphin jump out of the water?
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Which of the following statements is true about dolphins?
Which of the following statements is true about dolphins?
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What do dolphins do to hunt their prey?
What do dolphins do to hunt their prey?
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What unique feature do dolphins have to breathe?
What unique feature do dolphins have to breathe?
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Which dolphins are known to form superpods due to abundance of food?
Which dolphins are known to form superpods due to abundance of food?
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What characteristic distinguishes a dolphin's tail from that of a fish?
What characteristic distinguishes a dolphin's tail from that of a fish?
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Why do dolphins have an insulating layer of fat under their skin?
Why do dolphins have an insulating layer of fat under their skin?
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What term is used to describe a group of dolphins living together?
What term is used to describe a group of dolphins living together?
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How do bottlenose dolphins typically hunt their prey?
How do bottlenose dolphins typically hunt their prey?
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What is the purpose of breaching for dolphins?
What is the purpose of breaching for dolphins?
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Which of the following is true regarding dolphin pods?
Which of the following is true regarding dolphin pods?
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What is a significant reason dusky dolphins form superpods?
What is a significant reason dusky dolphins form superpods?
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Which of the following best describes where dolphins can be found?
Which of the following best describes where dolphins can be found?
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What is the primary function of blubber in dolphins?
What is the primary function of blubber in dolphins?
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How do bottlenose dolphins typically hunt for food?
How do bottlenose dolphins typically hunt for food?
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What distinguishes dolphins from fish?
What distinguishes dolphins from fish?
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What is a common social structure of dolphin pods?
What is a common social structure of dolphin pods?
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Which of the following dolphins are known to create superpods?
Which of the following dolphins are known to create superpods?
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Which characteristic of dolphins allows them to breathe air?
Which characteristic of dolphins allows them to breathe air?
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What behavior do spinner dolphins exhibit while hunting tuna?
What behavior do spinner dolphins exhibit while hunting tuna?
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What is breaching in the context of dolphins?
What is breaching in the context of dolphins?
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What distinguishes dolphins from fish?
What distinguishes dolphins from fish?
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Which of the following describes the body of a dolphin?
Which of the following describes the body of a dolphin?
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What term describes a group of dolphins that works together during hunting?
What term describes a group of dolphins that works together during hunting?
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What action do dolphins perform when they jump and flip out of the water?
What action do dolphins perform when they jump and flip out of the water?
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What is the primary function of a dolphin's blowhole?
What is the primary function of a dolphin's blowhole?
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What is the first step in the hunting behavior of bottlenose dolphins?
What is the first step in the hunting behavior of bottlenose dolphins?
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What type of body temperature regulation do dolphins exhibit?
What type of body temperature regulation do dolphins exhibit?
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How high can a bottlenose dolphin jump out of the water?
How high can a bottlenose dolphin jump out of the water?
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Study Notes
Dolphin Characteristics
- Dolphins are marine mammals belonging to the whale family.
- They can grow up to 9.8 meters in length and weigh over 5000 kg.
- Dolphins have smooth, rubbery skin and are usually a mixture of black, white and grey.
- They have two fins on their sides, a triangular fin on their back and a horizontal tail.
- They also have a layer of insulating fat called blubber under the skin.
- Dolphins breathe through a single nostril on top of their head called the blowhole.
Dolphin Behavior
- Dolphins live in groups called pods, which are often formed based on age, sex and family relationships.
- Dusky dolphins have been known to create superpods of over a thousand dolphins, often due to abundant food sources.
- Dolphins can be found in coastal waters, shallow waters and even freshwater rivers and lakes.
- Dolphins are warm-blooded and can maintain their body temperature.
Hunting
- Bottlenose dolphins hunt by swimming in large circles around their prey, stirring up the seafloor with their tails, making the water murky.
- They trap the fish in a shrinking circle, then catch them when they leap out to escape.
- Spinner dolphins communicate through clicks and whistles while swimming underwater.
- They drive lantern fish to the surface for their pod and other fish to feed on.
- Dolphins breach by jumping out of the water for several reasons, including signaling food availability.
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Description
This quiz explores the fascinating characteristics and behaviors of dolphins, including their anatomy and social structures. Learn how dolphins hunt and thrive in various aquatic environments. Test your knowledge about these intelligent marine mammals!
