nik newark

Facts about dolphins : An Apology

I have received some complaints that the recent post 'Facts about dophins 1-10' may have been based on some slightly shoddy research, and some of the facts may not have been entirely trustworthy. Doubts have also been raised about similar postings about Moles and Flies, Rest assured, reader, that I at no time intend to offend or mislead. As a token of my goodwill, please find an updated set of exciting dolphin facts (with an extra special 11th fact, as a special gesture to anyone who was upset by the earlier posts).

1. Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures. Their brain to weight ratio is slightly lower than a human, but far higher than a chimp. Dolphins are also far cooler than chimps.
2. Dolphins look like a fish, but they are in fact a mammal on the grounds of giving birth to live young. There is however, a sort of fish called a Dolphin, which is not a mammal, on the grounds of being a fish.
3. A dolphin has teeth, and sometimes likes to eat fish (some of which may or may not be dolphin - see #2)
4. Dolphins are very fast swimmers, swimming up to 25mph. They only travel faster than 60 mph when they get snagged up in a speedboat.
5. Many dolphins are grey, with black eyes.
6. Dolphins are great at detecting the temperature of bathwater
7. Dolphins typically live for around 20 years (but occasionally they live until nearly 50). They never live to 400.
8. Dolphins are not naturally good at walking, and tend to stay in the sea.
9. Dolphins have their birthday on the same day every year. Some humans celebrate dolphin birthdays, but dolphins rarely do (if ever).
10. Dolphins are extremely social creatures, and gather themselves in pods. They have a complex caste hierarchy, known as a podcaste.
11. Their characteristic whistling and clicking appears on lots of New Age meditation CDs. These are normally recorded on location, as dolphins do not like recording studios.

The authenticity and accuracy of these facts is guaranteed, and can be cross checked with Wikipedia