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Dolphin
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Dolphin
Fossil range: EarlyMiocene - Recent

Bottlenose Dolphin breaching in the bow wave of a boat
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Cetacea
Suborder:Odontoceti
Family: Delphinidae and Platanistoidea
Gray, 1821
Genera
See article below.
Dolphins areaquatic mammals which are closely related towhales andporpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. They vary in size from 1.2metres (4ft) and 40kilograms (88lb) (Maui‘s Dolphin), up to 9.5 m (30 ft) and tentonnes (theOrca or Killer Whale). They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of thecontinental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eatingfish andsquid. Thefamily Delphinidae is the largest in the Cetacea, and relatively recent: dolphins evolved about ten million years ago, during theMiocene.Dolphins are considered to be amongst the most intelligent of animalsand their often friendly appearance and seemingly playful attitude havemade them popular inhuman culture.
Contents
[hide]
1 Origin of the name
2 Taxonomy2.1 Hybrid dolphins
3 Evolution and anatomy3.1 Evolution
3.2 Anatomy
3.3 Senses
4 Behaviour4.1 Social behaviour
4.2 Reproduction and sexuality
4.3 Feeding
4.4 Jumping and playing
5 Human-dolphin relationships5.1 Mythology
5.2 Therapy
5.3 Entertainment
5.4 Military
5.5 Literature
6 Human threats to dolphins6.1 2007: Year of the Dolphin
7 References
8 External links
Origin of the name
The name is fromAncient Greek δελφ?ς delphis meaning "with a womb" which can be interpreted as meaning "a ‘fish‘ with a womb".[1]
The word is used in a few different ways. It can mean:
Any member of the familyDelphinidae (oceanic dolphins),
Any member of the familiesDelphinidae andPlatanistoidea (oceanic and river dolphins),
Any member of the suborderOdontoceti (toothed whales; these include the above families and some others),
Used casually as a synonym forBottlenose Dolphin, the most common and familiar species of dolphin.
In this article, the second definition is used.Porpoises (suborderOdontoceti, familyPhocoenidae) are thus not dolphins in this sense.Orcasand some closely related species belong to the Delphinidae family andtherefore qualify as dolphins, even though they are called whales incommon language. A group of dolphins can be called a "school" or a"pod".
Taxonomy

Common Dolphin

Bottlenose Dolphin

Spotted Dolphin

Commerson‘s Dolphin

Dusky Dolphin

Killer Whales, also known as Orcas

The Boto, or Amazon River Dolphin
See also:List of dolphins
SuborderOdontoceti, toothed whalesFamilyDelphinidae, oceanic DolphinsGenus DelphinusLong-Beaked Common Dolphin, Delphinus capensis
Short-Beaked Common Dolphin, Delphinus delphis
Genus TursiopsBottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops aduncus
Genus LissodelphisNorthern Rightwhale Dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis
Southern Rightwhale Dolphin, Lissiodelphis peronii
Genus SotaliaTucuxi, Sotalia fluviatilis
Genus SousaIndo-Pacific Hump-backed Dolphin, Sousa chinensisChinese White Dolphin (the Chinese variant), Sousa chinensis chinensis
Atlantic Humpbacked Dolphin, Sousa teuszii
Genus StenellaAtlantic Spotted Dolphin, Stenella frontalis
Clymene Dolphin, Stenella clymene
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin, Stenella attenuata
Spinner Dolphin, Stenella longirostris
Striped Dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba
Genus StenoRough-Toothed Dolphin, Steno bredanensis
Genus CephalorynchusChilean Dolphin, Cephalorhynchus eutropia
Commerson‘s Dolphin, Cephalorhynchus commersonii
Heaviside‘s Dolphin, Cephalorhynchus heavisidii
Hector‘s Dolphin, Cephalorhynchus hectori
Genus GrampusRisso‘s Dolphin, Grampus griseus
Genus LagenodelphisFraser‘s Dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei
Genus LagenorhyncusAtlantic White-Sided Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus acutus
Dusky Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obscurus
Hourglass Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus cruciger
Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
Peale‘s Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis
White-Beaked Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus albirostris
Genus OrcaellaAustralian Snubfin Dolphin, Orcaella heinsohni
Irrawaddy Dolphin, Orcaella brevirostris
Genus PeponocephalaMelon-headed Whale, Peponocephala electra
Genus OrcinusKiller Whale, Orcinus orca
Genus FeresaPygmy Killer Whale, Feresa attenuata
Genus PseudorcaFalse Killer Whale, Pseudorca crassidens
Genus Globicephala Long-finnedPilot Whale, Globicephala melas
Short-finnedPilot Whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus
FamilyPlatanistoidea, River Dolphins Genus IniaBoto (Amazon River Dolphin), Inia geoffrensis
Genus LipotesChinese River Dolphin (Baiji), Lipotes vexillifer
Genus PlatanistaGanges River Dolphin, Platanista gangetica
Indus River Dolphin, Platanista minor
Genus PontoporiaLa Plata Dolphin (Franciscana), Pontoporia blainvillei
Six species in the family Delphinidae are commonly called "whales"but are strictly speaking dolphins. They are sometimes called"blackfish".
Melon-headed Whale, Peponocephala electra
Killer Whale, Orcinus orca
Pygmy Killer Whale, Feresa attenuata
False Killer Whale, Psudorca crassidens
Long-finnedPilot Whale, Globicephala melas
Short-finnedPilot Whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus
Hybrid dolphins
In1933, three abnormal dolphins were beached off theIrish coast; these appeared to behybrids between Risso‘s Dolphin and the Bottlenose Dolphin.[2]This mating has since been repeated in captivity and a hybrid calf wasborn. In captivity, a Bottlenose Dolphin and a Rough-toothed Dolphinproduced hybrid offspring.[3] A Common-Bottlenose hybrid lives atSeaWorld California.[4] Various other dolphin hybrids have also been reported in the wild, such as a Bottlenose-Atlantic Spotted hybrid.[5] The best known hybrid however is theWolphin,a False Killer Whale-Bottlenose Dolphin hybrid. The Wolphin is afertile hybrid, and two such Wolphins currently live at the Sea LifePark inHawaii,the first having been born in 1985 from a male False Killer Whale and afemale Bottlenose. Wolphins have also been observed in the wild.[6]
Evolution and anatomy

The Anatomy of a Dolphin showing its skeleton, major organs and body shape.
Evolution
See also:Evolution of cetaceans
Dolphins, along with whales and porpoises, are thought to be descendants of terrestrial mammals, most likely of theArtiodactylorder. The ancestors of the modern day dolphins entered the water roughly fifty million years ago, in theEocene epoch.

Hind Limb Buds on Dolphins An embryo of a Spotted Dolphin in thefifth week of development. The hind limbs are present as small bumps(hind limb buds) near the base of the tail. The pin is approximately 1inch (~2,5 cm) long.

Bottlenose Dolphin with vestigial hind flippers, captured 2006 in Japan.
Modern dolphinskeletons have two small, rod-shaped pelvic bones thought to bevestigial hind legs. InOctober 2006 an unusual Bottlenose Dolphin was captured inJapan; it had smallfins on each side of its genital slit which scientists believe to be a more pronounced development of these vestigial hind legs.[7]
Anatomy
Dolphins have a streamlinedfusiformbody, adapted for fast swimming. The basic colouration patterns areshades of grey with a light underside and a distinct dark cape on theback. It is often combined with lines and patches of different hue andcontrast.
The head contains themelon, a round organ used forecholocation.In many species, the jaws are elongated, forming a distinct beak; forsome species like the Bottlenose, there is a curved mouth which lookslike a fixed smile. Teeth can be very numerous (up to two hundred andfifty) in several species. Thedolphin brain is large and has a highly structured cortex, which often is referred to in discussions about their advanced intelligence.
Unlike most mammals, dolphins do not have hair, but they are born with a few hairs around the tip of theirrostrum which they lose after some time, in some cases even before they are born. The only exception to this is theBoto river dolphin, which does have some small hairs on the rostrum.
Their reproductive organs are located on the underside of the body. Males have two slits, one concealing thepenis and one further behind for theanus. The female has one genital slit, housing thevagina and the anus. A mammary slit is positioned on either side of the female‘s genital slit.
Senses
Most dolphins have acuteeyesight, both in and out of the water, and their sense ofhearingis superior to that of humans. Though they have a small ear opening oneach side of their head, it is believed that hearing underwater is alsoif not exclusively done with the lower jaw which conducts the soundvibrations to themiddle earvia a fat-filled cavity in the lower jaw bone. Hearing is also used forecholocation, which seems to be an ability all dolphins have. Theirteeth are arranged in a way that works as an array or antenna toreceive the incoming sound and make it easier for them to pinpoint theexact location of an object.[8]The dolphin‘s sense of touch is also well-developed. However, dolphinslack an olfactory nerve and lobes and thus are believed to have nosense of smell,[9] but they cantasteand do show preferences for certain kinds of fish. Since dolphins spendmost of their time below the surface normally, just tasting the watercould act in a manner analogous to a sense of smell.
Though most dolphins do not have any hair, they do still havehair follicles and it is believed these might still perform some sensory function, though it is unclear what exactly this may be.[10] The small hairs on the rostrum of the Boto river dolphin are believed to function as atacticle sense however, possibly to compensate for the Boto‘s poor eyesight.[11]
Behaviour
See also:Whale behaviour

Pacific White-Sided Dolphins breaching
Dolphins are often regarded as one of Earth‘s most intelligentanimals, though it is hard to say just how intelligent dolphins are, ascomparisons of species‘ relative intelligence are complicated bydifferences in sensory apparatus, response modes, and nature ofcognition. Furthermore, the difficulty and expense of doingexperimental work with large aquatics means that some tests which couldmeaningfully be done still have not been carried out, or have beencarried out with inadequate sample size and methodology. Dolphinbehaviour has been studied extensively by humans however, both incaptivity and in the wild. See thecetacean intelligence article for more details.
Social behaviour

Dolphins surfing atSnapper Rocks,Queensland,Australia.
Dolphins are social, living in pods (also called "schools") of up toa dozen individuals. In places with a high abundance of food, pods canjoin temporarily, forming an aggregation called a superpod;such groupings may exceed a thousand dolphins. The individualscommunicate using a variety of clicks, whistles and othervocalizations. They also use ultrasonic sounds forecholocation.Membership in pods is not rigid; interchange is common. However, thecetaceans can establish strong bonds between each other. This leads tothem staying with injured or ill individuals.
In May 2005, researchers inAustralia discovered a cultural aspect of dolphin behaviour: Some dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) teach their children to use tools. The dolphins breakspongesoff and cover their snouts with them thus protecting their snouts whileforaging. This knowledge of how to use a tool is mostly transferredfrom mothers to daughters, unlikesimianprimates,where the knowledge is generally passed on to both sexes. Thetechnology to use sponges as mouth protection is not geneticallyinherited but a taught behaviour.[12]
They are also willing to occasionally approach humans and playfullyinteract with them in the water. Dolphins have also been known toprotect swimmers from sharks by swimming circles around them.[13]
Dolphins are known to engage in acts of aggression towards eachother. The older a male dolphin is, the more likely his body is coveredwith scars ranging in depth from teeth marks made by other dolphins. Itis suggested that male dolphins engage in such acts of aggression forthe same reasons as humans: disputes between companions or evencompetition for other females. Acts of aggression can become so intensethat targeted dolphins are known to go into exile, leaving theircommunities as a result of losing a fight with other dolphins.
Male Bottlenose Dolphins have been known to engage ininfanticide. Dolphins have also been known to killporpoisesfor reasons which are not fully understood, as porpoises generally donot share the same fish diet as dolphins and are therefore notcompetitors for food supplies.[14]
Reproduction and sexuality
Dolphincopulation happens belly to belly and though many species engage in lengthyforeplay, the actual act is usually only brief, but may be repeated several times within a short timespan. Thegestation periodvaries per species; for the small Tucuxi dolphin, this period is around11 to 12 months, while for the Orca the gestation period is around 17months.
Dolphins are one of the few animals other than humans known to havesex for reasons other than reproduction, sometimes also engaging inacts of ahomosexualnature. Various dolphin species have been known to engage in sexualbehaviour with other dolphin species, this also having resulted invarious hybrid dolphin species as mentioned earlier. Occasionally,dolphins will also show sexual behaviour towards humans.[15]
Feeding

Orca grabbing asea lion from the beach inPatagonia
Individual species may employ a number of methods of hunting, buteven within a species various feeding methods may be employed, somebeing used by only a single dolphin population. Fish and squid are themain source of food for most dolphin species, but the False KillerWhale and the Killer Whale also feed on other marine mammals.
One feeding method employed by many species is herding, where a podwill control a school of fish while individual members take turnsplowing through the school, feeding. The tightly packed school of fishis commonly known as bait ball. Coralling is a method where fish arechased to shallow water where they are more easily captured. InSouth Carolina, the AtlanticBottlenose Dolphintakes this one step further with what has become known as strandfeeding, where the fish are driven onto mud banks and retrieved fromthere.[16] In some places, Orcas will also come up to the beach to captureseals. Some species also whack fish with their fluke, stunning them and sometimes sending fish clear out of the water.
Reports of cooperative human-dolphin fisheries date back to theancient Roman author andnatural philospherPliny.[17] A modern human-dolphin fishery still takes place inLaguna,Santa Catarina,Brazil.[18]
Jumping and playing
Dolphins often leap above the water surface, sometimes performing acrobatic figures (e.g. thespinner dolphin).Scientists are not always quite certain about the purpose of thisbehaviour and the reason for it may vary, it could be to locate schoolsof fish by looking at above-water signs like feeding birds, they couldbe communicating to other dolphins to join a hunt, attempting todislodge parasites, or simply doing it for fun. Play is a veryimportant part of dolphins‘ lives, and they can often be observedplaying with seaweed or play-fighting with other dolphins. They evenharass other locals, like seabirds and turtles. Dolphins also seem toenjoy riding waves and frequently ‘surf‘ coastal swells and the bowwaves of boats.
Human-dolphin relationships
Mythology
See also:Dolphins in mythology
Dolphins have long played a role in human culture. Dolphins are common inGreek mythology and there are many coins from the time which feature a man or boy riding on the back of a dolphin. TheAncient Greekstreated them with welcome; a ship spotting dolphins riding in theirwake was considered a good omen for a smooth voyage. Dolphins also seemto have been important to theMinoans, judging by artistic evidence from the ruined palace atKnossos. InHindu mythology, the Ganges River Dolphin is associated withGanga, the deity of theGanges river.
Therapy
Dolphins are used inanimal-assisted therapy, to help with various psychological and neurological problems such asautism,depression,Down syndrome and various development problems, and has shown to be beneficial for the participants.[19]
Entertainment
See also:Dolphinarium

The famous Orca Keiko from the Free Willy movies being prepared for transport.
In more recent times, the1963 Flipper movie and the subsequent popularFlipper television series, contributed to the popularity of dolphins inWestern society. The series, created byIvan Tors, portrayed a dolphin in a friendly relationship with two boys, Sandy and Bud; a kind of seagoingLassie. Flipper, a Bottlenose Dolphin, understood English unusually well and was a marked hero. Asecond Flipper movie was made in1996, which was based on the story of the original movie. A Bottlenose Dolphin also played a prominent role in the 1990sscience fiction television seriesseaQuest DSVin which the animal, named Darwin, could communicate with Englishspeakers using a vocoder, a fictional invention which translated theclicks and whistles to English and back.

A young couple being entertained by a trained Bottlenose Dolphin inPuerto Plata,Dominican republic.
More well known from this time period is probably the movieFree Willy however, which made famous the Orca playing Willy,Keiko. The1977horror movieOrcapaints a less friendly picture of the animal. Here, a male Orca takesrevenge on fishermen after the killing of his mate. In the1973 movieThe Day of the Dolphin trained dolphins are kidnapped and made to perform a naval militaryassassination using explosives.

Bottlenose Dolphin with a fish atThe Mirage
The renewed popularity of dolphins in the 1960s resulted in the appearance of manydolphinariums around the world, which have made dolphins accessible to the public. Though criticism and more strictanimal welfarelaws have forced many dolphinariums to close their doors, hundredsstill exist around the world attracting large amount of visitors. IntheUnited States, best known are theSeaWorldmarine mammal parks, and their common Orcastage nameShamu, which they havetrademarked, has become well known.Southwest Airlines, an American airline, has even painted three of theirBoeing 737 aircraft in Shamu colours as an advertisement for the parks and have been flying with such a livery on various aircraft since1988.
Occasionally, dolphins make an appearance incomputer games. Best known is theEcco the Dolphingame series. The games are named after their main character, Ecco, ayoung Bottlenose Dolphin. The Ecco the Dolphin games hinge on the ideathat cetaceans are sapient beings and have their own underwater society.
A well known AmericanNational Football League (NFL) team is named theMiami Dolphins. Their logo depicts an aqua-coloured Bottlenose Dolphin wearing anAmerican football helmet and jumping in front of a coral-coloured sunburst.
Military
A number of militaries have employed dolphins for various purposes from finding mines to rescuing lost or trapped humans. Suchmilitary dolphins, however, drew scrutiny during the Vietnam War when rumors circulated that dolphins were being trained to kill Vietnameseskin divers. Best known today is theU.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program.
Literature
Dolphins are also common in contemporary literature, especiallyscience fiction novels. A military role for dolphins is found inWilliam Gibson‘s short storyJohnny Mnemonic, in whichcyborgdolphins are used in war-time by the military to find submarines and,after the war, by a group of revolutionaries to decode encryptedinformation. Dolphins play a role as sentient patrollers of the seaenhanced with a deeper empathy toward humans inAnne McCaffrey‘sThe Dragonriders of Pern series. More humorous isThe Hitchhiker‘s Guide to the Galaxy,in which dolphins are the second most intelligent creatures on Earth(after mice, and followed by humans) and tried in vain to warn humansof the impending destruction of the planet. However, their behaviourwas misinterpreted as playfulacrobatics. Their story is told inSo Long, and Thanks for All the Fish. Much more serious is their major role (along withchimpanzees) inDavid Brin‘sUplift series. A talking Dolphin called "Howard" helpsHagbard Celine and his submarine crew fight the evilIlluminati in Robert Shea andRobert Anton Wilson‘sIlluminatus Trilogy.
Dolphins also appear frequently in non-science fiction literature however. In the bookThe Music of Dolphins by authorKaren Hesse, a girl is raised by dolphins from the age of four until she is discovered by thecoast guard. Fantasy authorKen Grimwood wrote dolphins into his1995 novel Into the Deep about amarine biologist struggling to crack the code ofdolphin intelligence,including entire chapters written from the viewpoint of his dolphincharacters. In this book, humans and dolphins are capable ofcommunicating viatelepathy.
Human threats to dolphins
See also:Dolphin drive hunting

Dead Atlantic White-Sided Dolphins inHvalba on theFaroe Islands, killed in a drive hunt.
Some dolphin species face an uncertain future, especially some ofthe river dolphin species such as the Amazon River dolphin, and theGanges andYangtze River dolphin,all of which are critically or seriously endangered. A 2006 surveyfound no individuals of the Yangtze River dolphin, leading to theconclusion that the species is nowfunctionally extinct.[20]
Contamination of environment - the oceans, seas, and rivers - is an issue of concern, especiallypesticides,heavy metals, plastics, and other industrial and agriculturalpollutants which do not disintegrate rapidly in the environment arereducing dolphin populations, and resulting in dolphins building upunusually high levels of contaminants. Injuries or deaths due tocollisions with boats, especially theirpropellers, are also common.
Various fishing methods, most notablypurse seine fishing fortuna and the use of drift and gill nets, results in a large amounts of dolphins being killed inadvertently.[21] Accidental by-catch introut nets is common and poses a risk for mainly local dolphin populations. In some parts of the world, such as some areas inJapan and theFaroe Islands, dolphins are traditionally considered as food, and killed inharpoon ordrive hunts.
2007: Year of the Dolphin
The year2007 has been declared as(International) Year of the Dolphin by theUnited Nations andUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).[22] The idea was launched by the UN‘sConvention on Migratory Species and theWhale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).
References
^ The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition,online entry at Dictionary.com, retrievedDecember 17,2006.
^ Dolphin Safari (2006)sightings log, page retrievedDecember 17,2006.
^ Texas Tech University (1997),Mammals of Texas - Rough-toothed Dolphin, article retrievedDecember 8,2006.
^ Robin‘s IslandDolphins at SeaWorld California, page retrievedDecember 17,2006.
^ Denise L. Herzing, Kelly Moewe and Barbara J. Brunnick (2003),Interspecies interactions between Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis and bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, on Great Bahama Bank, Bahamas, article retrieved onDecember 17,2006.
^Louis Herman, interviewed for Associated Press, article by Jeanette J. Lee (2005),Livescience.com - Whale-Dolphin Hybrid Has Baby Wholphin, article retrieved April 26, 2007.
^Associated Press /FOX news (2006),Japanese Researchers Find Dolphin With ‘Remains of Legs‘, article retrievedNovember 6,2006.
^ Goodson, A.D. and M. Klinowska. "A Proposed Echolocation Receptor for the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): Modelling the Receive Directivity from Tooth and Lower Jaw Geometry", in Thomas and Kastelein, eds, NATO ASI Series A: Sensory Abilities of Cetaceans, vi.196:255-267 (Plenum NY, 1990)ISBN 0-30-643695-7
^ SeaWorld,Bottlenose Dolphins - Senses, article retrievedDecember 17,2006.
^ Bjorn Mauck, Ulf Eysel and Guide Dehnhardt (2000),Selective heating of vibrissal follicles in seals (Phoca Vitulina) and dolphins (Sotalia Fluviatilis Guianensis), article retrievedMarch 11, 2007.
^ Laurie Stepanek (1998),Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), article retrievedMarch 11, 2007.
^ Rowan Hooper for New Scientist (2005),Dolphins teach their children to use sponges, article retrievedDecember 17,2006.
^ CBC News (2004),Dolphins save swimmers from shark, article retrievedMarch 11, 2007.
^ Dr. George Johnson (date unknown),Is Flipper A Senseless Killer?, article retrievedDecember 17,2006.
^ Amy Samuels, Lars Bejder, Rochelle Constantine and Sonja Heinrich (2003),Marine Mammals: Fisheries, Tourism and Management Issues, chapter 15, pages 266 to 268, Cetaceans that are typically lonely and seek human company. RetrievedDecember 17,2006.
^"Coastal Stock(s) of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin: Status Review and Management," Proceedings and Recommendations from a Workshop held in Beaufort, North Carolina, 13-14 September 1993. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service. pp. 56-57.
^ M.B. Santos, R. Fernández, A. López, J.A. Martínez and G.J. Pierce (2007),Variability in the diet of bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, in Galician waters, north-western Spain, 1990–2005 (.pdf), article retrieved April 3, 2007.
^ The Telegraph (2006),Brazil‘s sexiest secret, article retrievedMarch 11, 2007.
^ Christian Antonioli and Michael A. Reveley, (2005),Randomised controlled trial of animal facilitated therapy with dolphins in the treatment of depression.
^ Douglas Williams for Shanghai Daily (2006),Yangtze dolphin may be extinct. Article retrievedDecember 9,2006.
^ Clover, Charles. 2004. The End of the Line: How overfishing is changing the world and what we eat. Ebury Press, London.ISBN 0-09-189780-7
^2007: (International) Year of the Dolphin - Official website, website retrieved on January 14, 2007.
External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:Dolphin

Wikispecies has information related to:Delphinidae

Cetaceans Portal
Further information:
OM Place - pictorial comparative chart of various dolphin species.
Dolphins and their significance in world mythology.
Tursi‘s dolphin page
Dolphin conservation and research:
The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)
Charityguide.com - Save Bottlenose dolphins
The Dolphin Institute
The Dolphin research center
Digital Library of Dolphin Development, Cetacean origins, Thewissen Lab
Dolphin news:
Tursiops.org: Current Cetacean-related news
Dolphin photos:
Red Sea Spinner Dolphin - Photo gallery
PBS NOVA: Dolphins: Close Encounters
David‘s Dolphin Images
Images of Wild Dolphins in the Red Sea
National Geographic