What adaptive features does the Maui's dolphin have?

Answer 1

Dolphins have adapted to their environment in the following ways:

• Fin shape: a dolphin's tail goes up and down to help it dive up to get air (compared to a fish's back fin which moves side to side). The shape of their fins also helps to propel them through the water.
• To help dolphins save oxygen while they dive underwater, their heart beats slower during a dive and their blood is diverted from other parts of the body to their heart, lungs, and brain.
• Dolphins also save oxygen via their muscles, which have a protein called myoglobin, which in turn stores oxygen.
• Dolphins have blubber, or fat, which provides insulation, helping the dolphin stay warm in cold water.
• Blubber also serves another function, streamlining the body for better speed in the water.
• Dolphins have a body covering of skin (not scales). The uppermost layer of the skin produces an oil which forms a film that covers the dolphin's whole body.
• Being mammals, dolphins breathe with lungs rather than gills, so they breathe from a blowhole which closes before the dolphin goes into the water, so water will not enter the blowhole.
• The long nose helps the dolphin to kill sharks.
• Dolphins have teeth, which they use to catch fish.
• Dolphins have large brains in relation to the size of their bodies, and studies show they have exceptional intelligence.
• Dolphins work together to find food, often "herding" school of small fish up onto reefs and sandbars. The dolphins then work together, taking turns to feed while the other dolphins keep the fish herded.
• Dolphins have well developed echolocation, by which they locate other animals and objects in the water. It is also how they communicate with each other.
• Dolphins have between 45 and 63 small, sharp teeth, which enable them to tear food into smaller pieces.
• Dolphins sleep with just part of their brain, so that the other part remains constantly on alert for danger.

Answer 2

The Hector dolphins of New Zealand have adapted to their surrounding . They are the smallest marine dolphins in the world, have contrasting markings, and have developed an unique hunting strategy.

Answer 3

Adaptations of the Spinner dolphin include:

• Spinner dolphins have darker colouring on top and are lighter underneath. This provides effective camouflage from predators both above and below.
• Spinner dolphins tend to sleep with just part of their brain, so the other part is constantly alert.
• Spinner dolphins are nocturnal feeders, feeding safely in groups.
• Fin shape: a Spinner dolphin's tail goes up and down to help it dive up to get air (compared to a fish's back fin which moves side to side). The shape of their fins also helps to propel them through the water.
• To help Spinner dolphins save oxygen while they dive underwater, their heart beats slower during a dive and their blood is diverted from other parts of the body to their heart, lungs, and brain.
• Spinner dolphins also save oxygen via their muscles, which have a protein called myoglobin, which in turn stores oxygen.
• All dolphins have blubber, or fat, which provides insulation, helping the dolphin stay warm in cold water. Blubber also serves another function, streamlining the body for better speed in the water.
• Dolphins have a body covering of skin (not scales). The uppermost layer of the skin produces an oil which forms a film that covers the dolphin's whole body.
• Being mammals, spinner dolphins breathe with lungs rather than gills, so they breathe from a blowhole which closes before the dolphin goes into the water, so water will not enter the blowhole.
• The long nose helps the dolphin to kill sharks.
• Dolphins have teeth, which they use to catch fish.
• Dolphins have large brains in relation to the size of their bodies, and studies show they have exceptional intelligence.
• Dolphins work together to find food, often "herding" school of small fish up onto reefs and sandbars. The dolphins then work together, taking turns to feed while the other dolphins keep the fish herded.
• Dolphins have well developed echolocation, by which they locate other animals and objects in the water. It is also how they communicate with each other.

Answer 4

The Maui's dolphin has a thick layer of fat beneath its skin to help keep it warm in cold ocean water. it has also adapted razor-sharp teeth to help it tear through the meat of prey.