Term Paper Categories
|
Dolphins
| Term Paper Title |
Dolphins |
| # of Words |
855 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) |
3.42 |
Dolphins
Dolphins are mammals closely related to whales and porpoises. Dolphins
have a powerful and streamlined body. They are found in all seas and oceans.
Dolphins can be told apart from porpoises by their nose, which is beaklike, and
also their conical teeth. Porpoises have a flatter nose, sharper teeth, and a
more solid body.
There are 32 known species of dolphins. The bottle-nosed dolphin is
often the species used in aquatic shows. The common dolphin inspired many
Mediterranean folk lores. Both of the dolphins above appear in open waters,
usually around cruise ships. They like to show off around the boat.
There are also freshwater dolphins that live in rivers of Asia and South
America. The Buffeo dolphin has been spotted up to 1250 miles up he Amazon River.
The buffeo is the smallest of all dolphins averaging about 4 feet. The
bottlenose is closer to 10 feet. The killer whale, which is also considered a
dolphin, can grow to be 30 feet long. The pilot whale is also considered a
dolphin.
Dolphins were once hunted by commercial boats for the small amount of
oil that can be extracted from their body. This oil is used to lubricate small
parts in watches. Cheaper oils have been found, so dolphins are not hunted for
this reason anymore. Dolphins can be caught in tuna nets by accident. Since
dolphins have to breath at the surface they drown in tuna nets. It is estimated
that 4.8 million dolphins were killed in tuna nets from 1959 to 1972. Under
pressure from animal rights activists tuna consumers will not accept tuna from
canners that do not protect dolphins. Animal rights activists also believe that
dolphins shouldn't be in captivity for use in aquatic shows.
Dolphins eat a lot of food in a day, usually about one third of their
body weight. A dolphin's diet consists of mostly fish and squid. Dolphins can
swim very fast, so they are able to easily catch their food. The dolphin has 200
to 250 sharp teeth. Dolphins follow schools of fish in groups. The Pacific
white-sided species is estimated to travel in groups with tens of thousands of
members, while on the other hand bottlenose dolphins travel in groups that
contain only a few members.
Dolphin, like whales, breathe through a blowhole in the top of their
head. While traveling dolphins break the surface once every two minutes. When
dolphins exhale water is sometimes thrown from the blowhole. After exhaling the
dolphins inhale and disappear into the ocean. A dolphins lungs are adapted to
resist the physical problems that are caused by quick changes in pressure. With
this adaptation dolphins can dive up to 1000 feet with no problem.
A dolphins tail is, like al...Read entire document
|
|
|
|
