|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Did you know?
- Majority of small toothed whales are called dolphins.
A dolphin's dorsal fin is as distinctive as a person's face.
- Dolphin's ancestors once lived on land and looked similar
to wolves, although they were more closely related to cows.
- Killer and pilot whales are considered dolphins.
At first glance, a dolphin's dorsal fin somewhat resembles
a shark and has sometimes caused false alarms at beaches.
- Dolphins seem to have been blessed with a well-developed
sense of humor. Dolphins have been known to silently maneuver
behind an unsuspecting pelican and snatch its tail feathers
-- usually leaving the bird minus a few.
- It has been suggested that the reason dolphins always
seem to be grinning is that they understand our language
and are patiently waiting for us to learn theirs.
- There is a Greek legend which shows that the Greeks did
consider the dolphin more than just a fish: Dionysus, god
of wine and frenzy, was mistaken and was to be sold as a
slave. He aroused to anger and changed the rowing oars into
snakes. When the men felt "madness" coming on
they leaped overboard, turning into dolphins. This is how
the first dolphins were created, and why dolphins always
help man.
- Many scientists believe that early whales arose 50 million
years ago from (now extinct) primitive mammals that ventured
back into the sea. Two small rod-shaped pelvic bones, buried
deep in the body muscle of toothed whales, may be remnants
of the hind limbs of these primitive mammals.
- Dolphins are said to spend about one-third of their day
sleeping or resting, one-third eating and one-third playing
or making love.
- There are some dolphins that live in fresh water instead
of salt water. They all belong to the river dolphin families.
These are Ganges, Indus River, and the Amazon River dolphins.
|
|
|
|
|
