Decorative Wall Fans :: Frolicking Dolphins

All things have a story...

Dolphins are one of the most amazing creatures on the planet and there are many interesting facts about them. For example, scientists believe that several million years ago, dolphins actually had legs and may have walked on land. These scientists say the dolphin was closely related to modern day cows but looked more like a wolf. Of course today dolphins can only swim in water and are one of the most adored of all sea or land specimens. They swim across the planet and can be found near the Pacific Islands, Africa, the U.S., Europe and Asia.

The dolphin can normally swim at about 17 mph, but every so often, when a ship or boat is traveling in their vicinity, they will swim in the wake of the ship or boat and can significantly increase their speed. It is quite common to see thousands of dolphins swimming together. These groups are called “pods” and can stretch for several miles of ocean. Swimming in pods helps the dolphin to be a more efficient hunter, as they can round up small schools of fish and chomp on them.

Like bats, dolphins use sound to gain information about their surroundings. It’s called “echolocation” and it works by the dolphin sending out a sound and then listening for it to bounce off objects. This is like a built-in radar device the dolphin uses to maneuver and seek out food. The clicking noises they emit under water can actually be so powerful that smaller fish and prey are rendered unconscious. The dolphin can then eat their stunned prey with relative ease. Although the dolphin does not have the sharp, hard bite of a shark, their teeth and jaw are very similar to that of a crocodile. In fact, some dolphins have as many as 250 pointy white teeth! But don’t ask a dolphin to talk. Instead, dolphins use a whistle-like sound to communicate with each other and every dolphin has its own signature sound that acts as its unique name.

Dolphins are smart creatures and most people feel they are filled with compassion for people. Indeed the dolphin has been helping mankind out for thousands of years. Perhaps this is why the dolphin has so much appeal to young children and older folks alike.