Page 196 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

196 ATLAS OF THE WORLD’S STRANGEST ANIMALS

It takes around a year for a dolphin calf to full develop. However, Emerging in a cloud of blood, the baby,just 1m (3.3ft) long,
being born underwater can be a traumatic experience. needs all of its mother’s care and attention to survive.

The female quickly nudges her disorientated calf towards the Now he’s free to feed. He attaches himself to his mother’s
surface,where he will finally be able to take his first breath. nipple, and gulps down the nutritious milk she provides.

In the water, bottlenose dolphins are creatures of creatures are at their most impressive when observed in
remarkable grace and power.Their large, muscular bodies the warm and temperate waters of their natural habitat.
are streamlined to reduce drag as they swim, enabling Sociable animals, they live in groups called pods,
them to reach speeds of more than 30km/h (18mph). containing between 10 and 20 individuals. Members
They’re famously acrobatic and can propel themselves communicate with the rest of their pod using a elaborate
out of the water and up to 5.5m (18ft) into the air.When but little understood vocabulary of clicks and squeaks.
diving, they regularly reach depths of 46m (150ft) – and Unlike humans, dolphins don’t have vocal cords, so instead
may even go down as deep as 547m (1794.6ft) when they use sphincter muscles within their blowhole to
trained to do so.Their characteristic ‘smile’, playful produce the necessary sounds. Body movements also form
personalities and intelligence have made them a popular part of this complex ‘language’, which is sophisticated
species, and their ability to learn has turned them into enough to enable them to identify one another and
animal superstars. coordinate their activities during hunts.They cooperate
Captive bottlenose dolphins are often seen in aquarium with other species too, and will even work with fishermen
displays and TV documentaries. But these intelligent to help them herd fish into nets, in return for a share.

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.