Earthwatch - Wild Dolphin Societies Teachers in the Field

How deep can a dolphin swim?
The U.S. Navy, which researches bottlenose dolphins, saw Tuffy, their deep-diving bottlenose, dive to 300 meters or 984 feet. Once Tuffy dived to 1,500 feet!

How can you tell sharks from dolphins?
Sharks do not have to come up for air. Dolphins have "porpoising" behavior (arching while swimming) in order to get their air. The characteristic dorsal fin would be different as well.

Is the pygmy whale okay without its mother?
Ami has survived to her first year birthday in the tank at Mote Marine Hospital. Ami would be totally unprepared to be returned to the wild. Her mom's milk was analyzed before she died and it was chemically reproduced. Ami has been tube fed by hand every morning at Mote with this "milk." The Pygmy Killer Whale is a little known species that inhabits deep waters of the tropics and subtropics. It is rarely seen so the vets at the marine mammal hospital have been breaking new ground in their care and feeding of Ami.

A swimmer enters the tank with Ami to do the nurturing and socializing that she is missing because she lacks a mom and another of her species.

How can you tell the different types of dolphins apart from the bottlenose, the notches on the fin?
The notches on the fin identify the dolphins in the Sarasota Bay area.
Different SPECIES of dolphins would be identified by location (where you see them), behavior and habits (what they are doing and how they do it), and distinguishing characteristics (size, speed, dorsal fin etc.).

Why do they look like they are smiling?
It is just the way their jaw bone structure is.

How long do they stay underwater?
Dolphins generally come up every 3 to 4 minutes for air. During that time underwater they can cover a great distance, since they are strong swimmers.

Do they sleep on their back?
Dolphins do not sleep. They rest. If a dolphin were to sleep it would stop breathing and die. They rest on the surface and close one eye and rest that side of the brain.

How long is their snout?
The correct term is "beak", not snout. It varies greatly in size, shape and color. The bottlenose dolphin has the shortest beak of all dolphin species.

How big was the pygmy whale?
Ami came to Mote at 100 pounds and now weighs 300 pounds.

Did you help the baby calf?
Not yet!

How long do dolphins live for?
40 - 50 years on the average

Do dolphins and whales travel together in pods?
Oceanic dolphins sometimes travel in the wake of a large whale. Dolphins can be found in the same area as other whales and sea turtles, though not traveling together in pods.

How did Pumpkin get its name?
The dorsal fin has a distinctive shape.

How fast do they swim?
Dolphins generally travel about 25 mph, but have been clocked at speeds up to 50 mph.

RESOURCES

• Ellis, Richard. Dolphins and Porpoises. Alfred Knopf, New York 1989.

• Cowardine, Mark. Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. Eyewitness Handbook, DK Publishing, Inc. 1995.

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