Dolphins are some of the smartest and friendliest animals in the ocean! They are not fish — they are mammals, just like us. That means they breathe air and feed milk to their babies. Dolphins love to play and can often be seen jumping and splashing in the waves!
Dolphins have smooth, shiny skin that is usually gray on top and white on their belly. They have a long nose called a snout and a curved fin on their back called a dorsal fin. Dolphins have a big smile on their face that makes them look happy all the time! Most dolphins are about 6 to 12 feet long, which is about as long as a car.
Dolphins live in oceans all around the world and sometimes in rivers too! They swim together in groups called pods, and a pod can have just a few dolphins or hundreds of them. Dolphins eat fish and squid that they catch with their sharp little teeth. They breathe air through a hole on top of their head called a blowhole, so they have to come up to the surface often.
Dolphins talk to each other using clicks, whistles, and squeaks!
Each dolphin has its own special whistle, kind of like having its own name.
Dolphins sleep with one eye open and only rest half their brain at a time so they remember to keep breathing.
Baby dolphins are called calves, and they can swim right from the moment they are born!
OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia
