Happy Wordless Wednesday!!!

2007: Year of the Dolphin

The year 2007 has been declared as (International) Year of the Dolphin by the United Nations and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in an effort to promote dolphin conservation.[30] The idea was launched by the UN's Convention on Migratory Species and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).

Picture: Dusky Dolphin

Vocalizations

Dolphins are capable of making a broad range of sounds using nasal airsacs located just below the blowhole. Roughly three categories of sounds can be identified :
1. frequency modulated sounds which are usually just called whistles
2. burst-pulsed sounds
3. clicks.

Whistles are used by dolphins to communicate, though the nature and extent of their ability to communicate in this way is not known. Research has shown however that at least some dolphin species are capable of sending identity information to each other using a signature whistle; a whistle that refers specifically to the identity of a certain dolphin. The burst-pulsed sounds are also used for communication, but again the nature and extent of communication possible this way is not known. The clicks are directional and used by dolphins for echolocation and are often in a short series called a click train, the rate increasing when approaching an object of interest. Dolphin echolocation clicks are amongst the loudest sounds made by animals in the sea

Picture: Commerson's Dolphin

Names

A group of dolphins can be called a "school" or a "pod".
Male dolphins are called "bulls".
Females dolphins are called "cows".
Young dolphins are called "calves".

Picture: Spotted Dolphin

Origin of the name

The name is originally from Ancient Greek delphís; "dolphin", which was related to the Greek delphys; "womb". The animal's name can therefore be interpreted as meaning "a fish with a womb". The name was transmitted via the Latin delphinus, Middle Latin dolfinus and the Old French daulphin, which reintroduced the ph into the word.

Picture: Bottlenose Dolphin

Anatomy of a Dolphin

Picture: Common Dolphin

General Stuff

Dolphins are aquatic mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid.

Dolphins are considered to be amongst the most intelligent of animals and their often friendly appearance and seemingly playful attitude have made them popular in human culture.

Picture