What are the habits and adaptations of a dolphin?

Answer 1

Dolphins have a number of habits and adaptations which ensure they survive well in their marine environment:

• 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 dolphin has some important adaptations. A dolphin has live births so it doesn't have to stay with eggs, it has lungs but can also swim for a while underwater.

Answer 3

They have a tail. Sharp teeth. Call out to other dolphins. They are the most intelligent animal in the ocean. They have great eyesight.

Answer 4

they mate, and have 9 babies at a time