Characteristics of Dolphins Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Paper

Characteristics of Dolphins The majority of sharp tooth whales are called dolphins. Dolphins are mammals of the suppose cetaceous and the families Plantanistidae and Delphinidae and include intimately 50 species (Internet 1). closely dolphin species are about 6 feet in length, the males averaging 4 to 8 inches long-lived than females. The endless dolphin, the bottle-nose dolphin, can reach over nine-feet in length and cant over up to 440 pounds. The smallest dolphin species is the buffalo which is found in the Amazon River. The buffalo dolphin rarely grows over 3.9 feet or weighs more than 66 pounds. A dolphins diet consists mainly of herring, mackerel, and sardines. Some species however, prefer squid, fish and otherwise crustacean (Gygax 585). The average amount of fish ingested is estimated at about 66 pounds a day for an individual dolphin about 8.2 feet and 220 pounds. The embody of a dolphin is sleek, smooth and hairless, making t he skin rubbery to the touch. Most species extradite tattles that protrude into a greenback ilk snout. Above the velocity jaw is a large mass of fat and oil-containing wind forming the supposed melon vine that looks much like a bulging forehead (Internet 1). The abaxial five on the mid-back of the dolphin contains the skeletal remnants of five digits that form the flippers. Dolphins commit the abaxial fin primarily as stabilizers, although occasionally in an oar like fashion. The dorsal fin is formed from subcutaneous cutaneous tissue and is non conveyable by muscle action. The hind flippers consist of a duo of small pelvic bones, deeply embedded in the connective tissue at the base of the tail. The caudal, or tail, fin is also primarily dermal in origin, rather than skeletal, and con... ... the rough-toothed Dolphin, the Bottlenose Dolphin, the Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin, the Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, the Common Dolphin, the descry Dolphin, the stripy Dolphin , and the Black Dolphin (low, rounded dorsal fin no beak dark pigmentation limited to the coastal waters of Chile.) Sources CitedGygax, Lorenz. Evolution of separate coat in the Dolphins and Porpoises Interspecific Consistency of Intraspecific Patterns. Behavioral Ecology. Vol. 13, zero(prenominal) 5 (Sept 2002) 583-590.Hamilton, Healy, et al. Evolution of River Dolphins. The Royal Society. California 549-555.Internet 1 http//www.thedolphinplace.com/facts.html<http//www.beach-net.com/dolphins/biology.html<http//www.liscannorferry.com/dolphin_jewelry-1.html<http//thedolphinplace.com/main.html<http//laws.fws.gov/lawsdigest/marman.html Characteristics of Dolphins Essay -- alpha Essays Research PaperCharacteristics of Dolphins The majority of small tooth whales are called dolphins. Dolphins are mammals of the order Cetacean and the families Plantanistidae and Delphinidae and include about 50 species (Internet 1). Most dolphin species are abou t 6 feet in length, the males averaging 4 to 8 inches longer than females. The longest dolphin, the bottle-nose dolphin, can reach over nine-feet in length and weight up to 440 pounds. The smallest dolphin species is the buffalo which is found in the Amazon River. The Buffalo dolphin rarely grows over 3.9 feet or weighs more than 66 pounds. A dolphins diet consists mainly of herring, mackerel, and sardines. Some species however, prefer squid, shrimp and other crustacean (Gygax 585). The average amount of fish ingested is estimated at about 66 pounds a day for an individual dolphin about 8.2 feet and 220 pounds. The body of a dolphin is sleek, smooth and hairless, making the skin rubbery to the touch. Most species have jaws that protrude into a beak like snout. Above the upper jaw is a large mass of fat and oil-containing tissue forming the so-called melon that looks much like a bulging forehead (Internet 1). The dorsal fin on the mid-back of the dolphin contains the skeletal remnants of five digits that form the flippers. Dolphins use the dorsal fin primarily as stabilizers, although occasionally in an oar like fashion. The dorsal fin is formed from subcutaneous dermal tissue and is not movable by muscle action. The hind flippers consist of a pair of small pelvic bones, deeply embedded in the connective tissue at the base of the tail. The caudal, or tail, fin is also primarily dermal in origin, rather than skeletal, and con... ... the rough-toothed Dolphin, the Bottlenose Dolphin, the Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin, the Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, the Common Dolphin, the Spotted Dolphin, the Striped Dolphin, and the Black Dolphin (low, rounded dorsal fin no beak dark pigmentation limited to the coastal waters of Chile.) Sources CitedGygax, Lorenz. Evolution of Group Size in the Dolphins and Porpoises Interspecific Consistency of Intraspecific Patterns. Behavioral Ecology. Vol. 13, No. 5 (Sept 2002) 583-590.Hamilton, Heal y, et al. Evolution of River Dolphins. The Royal Society. California 549-555.Internet 1 http//www.thedolphinplace.com/facts.html<http//www.beach-net.com/dolphins/biology.html<http//www.liscannorferry.com/dolphin_jewelry-1.html<http//thedolphinplace.com/main.html<http//laws.fws.gov/lawsdigest/marman.html