One of the most charming creatures in the marine world, it has captured people’s attention for years, due to its remarkable intelligence and friendly nature. Dolphin curiosities introduce us to an incredible and magical animal, which is capable of saving people in times of risk, helping sailors, interacting with us and have fun with the most diverse games. The friendly smile and tender look of the dolphins steal the hearts of everyone who has the opportunity to get close to them. But in addition to its positive characteristics, this species hides incredible features that are well worth knowing. Join us in Supercurioso to explore the most unusual curious facts about dolphins.
10 Curiosities about Dolphins
1. His incredible intelligence
Among the curious facts about dolphins, their intelligence stands out. They are considered the most intelligent species in the world, after humans.
Their abilities and skills encompass, for example, an astonishing way of communicating, with a complexity that exceeds that of any species of primates. Their brains present a potentiality, where each area is as specified as that of human beings. They also have a great memory.
All this lays the foundations for biologists to defend that dolphins should not remain in water parks, trained to entertain us and be fed based on stimuli and rewards. Dolphins suffer in captivity, and although it seems almost impossible to us, there are documented cases in which many use suicide to avoid situations in which they are unhappy. In fact, there are many water parks where dolphins have ended up killing themselves by hitting the walls. This terrible act is a clear example of his intelligence. When sadness and despair drown their lives, they simply choose to stop living.
2. The most intelligent species
In general terms, the dolphin is an animal of extraordinary intelligence, but among all its species, the bottlenose dolphin is the most acute and mentally capable. According to scientists, they are so similar to human beings that they even share a characteristic: violence. There are cases where bottlenose dolphins have been seen to kill other animals for the simple pleasure of killing. These animals have their own personality, show emotions and even think about the future.
3. The ability to recognize
Another of the curiosities of the most peculiar dolphins is their ability to recognize. According to Diana Reiss, Professor of Psychology at Hunter College in New York, dolphins can even recognize themselves in a mirror and inspect different parts of their own body, a capacity so far only present in humans and primates. They can also distinguish symbols, solve problems of a certain complexity and work as a team to carry out expeditions or solve some type of objective, communicating with each other.
4. Dolphins… Do they get high?
It adds to the curious facts about dolphins, a fact that shows one of its less friendly facets. Among the little known behaviors of dolphins, there is the idea that they like to “get high” or “get drunk”, using puffer fish for this. It turns out that mammals insistently urge these fish to release their toxin. After this has been achieved, and after a while, the dolphins begin to behave in a different way, circling incessantly, as if they were drunk.
5. The sense of sight of dolphins
The way in which their sense of sight is developed is one of the best curiosities of dolphins. It is about echolocation, or the ability of these mammals to emit sounds and then record their echo. With this quality, they can explore their environment in a much more comprehensive way, detecting possible accidents and even prey. Dolphins’ echosonar is located on the sides of their heads and in the lower jaw.
6. Breathing
These marine mammals have certain peculiarities when it comes to their breathing. They must come to the surface to get oxygen through their blowhole (that little hole on top of their head). But Dolphin breathing is not a reflex, as in the case of humans, but a voluntary act, they run every five to eight minutes on average.
7. The dream
Another of the most interesting curiosities of dolphins is their peculiar sleeping habits. It is said that this species can “sleep awake”. There are two usual methods used by dolphins to sleep. The first is to do it in turns. They are placed in pairs and alternate sleeping shifts, so that one specimen rests while the other remains alert. The second and most incredible method is to sleep “on half.” Dolphins can sleep only one hemisphere of their brain, and keep the other awake and alert to the dangers of the seabed.
8. The defense of females
Among the less friendly bottlenose dolphin facts is the fact that males often attack females in order to sexually assault them. In this sense, females have managed to develop a defense method. Their complex vaginal structure allows them to make subtle movements during sexual intercourse, to prevent the male from fertilizing it.. In the same way, the folds inside it can be arranged in a certain way that are erected as a barrier method, which makes sexual encounter difficult.
9. Dolphin Therapy
We close this tour of the curiosities of dolphins, with the popular therapy with dolphins that has become popular in recent times. The sounds transmitted by these animals generate high-frequency ultrasonic waves, which they favor the activation of sleeping neurons and stimulate both hemispheres of the brain. His friendly and playful character also adds an experience full of affection.
10. The hearing and smell of dolphins
These curious mammals have quite particular senses. Their hearing is so acute that they can hear when an object has fallen into the water. and even know, from the waves it has generated, if it is rubber, plastic or metal. Instead, They totally lack the sense of smell. To find their prey, they use their sounds and their keen vision.
Dolphins, despite being cetaceans and having a brain anatomically different from humans, actually share many of our own characteristics. The curiosities of the dolphins reflect a unique and special species, which can use its intelligence to help, and which is also a victim of the suffering of confinement and captivity, suffering from the distance from its natural habitat. If you are in favor of respect for animal life, and its free development in its own environment, do not miss this selection of the best quotes about animal abusewith powerful ideas to raise awareness.