Dolphins – College Essay Example

dolphins varies depending on the species, lasting from 9 to 17 months. During birth, the female dolphin separates herself from the group and often approaches the water's surface. Typically, a mother dolphin gives birth to a single calf, although twins are rare occurrences. After birth, the mother immediately brings the calf to the surface so it can take its first breath. The calf nurses for a period of 11 months to 2 years, and even after weaning, it continues to stay with its mother until reaching an age range of 3 to 8 years old.

Dolphin Life Cycle - Learn about the Dolphin Life Cycle & Birthing Process.

The reproductive process is where dolphins give birth to live babies instead of laying eggs. Despite different breeds, dolphins have a similar life cycle. They are intelligent mammals and can interact with humans. They have even been known to save human lives when people are lost in the sea. Since their discovery, these marine creatures have always captivated people's interest.

The process of giving birth to dolphins is difficult, especially because it takes place in the ocean. Female dolphins typically have a gestation period of 11 to 12 months, although this can vary depending on the species. While some dolphins give birth after 11 months of pregnancy, others carry their offspring for a full year. It is worth noting that dolphin births involve the tail coming out first and the newborns being able to swim right away. In general, dolphins stay with their original group even as they mature into adults.

The mother's group in dolphins typically comprises of female dolphins. Female dolphins

become sexually mature between 7 and 12 years old, while males reach maturity between 10 and 15 years old. However, the age of maturity can vary depending on the species and location of the dolphins. Unlike having lifelong partners, dolphins have multiple mates throughout their lives. Females generally give birth every 4 or 5 years and can have up to 11 calves during their lifetime. They continue mating until they reach their 40s.

Female dolphins have a lengthy period between births as they dedicate a considerable amount of time to caring for their offspring before enabling them to be self-sufficient. An interesting resemblance can be observed in the birthing procedures of dolphins and humans, where another female dolphin acts as a midwife and assists with the delivery when a female dolphin is ready to give birth. Once the dolphin calf is born, it is guided towards the water's surface to take its initial breath. The female dolphin must remain vigilant throughout the birthing process to protect against potential threats from predators.

During the process of giving birth, dolphins experience bleeding, which is similar to humans and can be dangerous as it attracts sharks – one of their main predators. To protect the mother during childbirth, other dolphins in her group will encircle her. Similarly to human babies, dolphin calves also rely on their mother's milk for nourishment; however, nursing underwater presents its own challenges. Consequently, dolphins have adapted to nurse their young beneath the water's surface.

The female dolphin can directly release her milk into her baby's mouth. The dolphin life cycle starts at birth and usually spans 35 to 55 years,

although most females don't live long after their reproductive years. Dolphins are marine mammals closely related to whales and porpoises. There are approximately forty species of dolphins, classified under 17 genera. These species vary significantly in size, ranging from the Maui's dolphin measuring 1.2 m (4 ft) and weighing 40 kg (90 lb), to the orca or killer whale reaching lengths of 9.5 m (30 ft) and weighing up to 10 tonnes (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons).

The Delphinidae family, the largest in the Cetacean order, emerged during the Miocene period about ten million years ago. They can be found globally and are mostly located in shallower seas on continental shelves. Their diet mainly consists of fish and squid.

The name dolphin comes from the Greek word "delphis," which means womb. So, the name can be interpreted as a fish with a womb. The term was passed down through Latin as "delphinus" (the Latin version of the later Greek word "delphinos"). In Medieval Latin, it changed to "dolfinus," and in Old French, it became "daulphin," reintroducing the "ph" into the word.

The term mereswine, which means sea pig, has previously been used. The term dolphin can refer to all species in the family delphinidae (including orcas and pilot whales) and the river dolphin superfamily Platanistoidea. This superfamily includes the families Iniidae (Amazon river dolphin), Lipotidae (Yangtze river dolphin), and Platanistidae (Ganges river dolphin and Indus river dolphin).

In the United States, larger cetacean species are commonly referred to as 'whales', while smaller ones with a beaked or longer nose are called 'dolphins'. However, in the fishing industry, all small cetaceans are often labeled incorrectly

as porpoises, and the fish dorado is known as dolphin fish. Bottlenose dolphins, which are the most familiar species of dolphins, are also frequently called 'dolphins'. Additionally, killer whales and some closely related species belong to the delphinidae family but are commonly recognized as orcas.

Although dolphins and porpoises are often used interchangeably, they have distinct physical features and behavior. Porpoises, which belong to the Phocoenidae family, have a shorter beak and teeth that resemble shovels in comparison to dolphins. Additionally, their behavior differs. Both dolphins and porpoises can trace their ancestry back to the delphinidae within the odontocetes suborder [12]. When in groups, dolphins are known as a school or pod. Male dolphins are referred to as bulls, females as cows, and young ones as calves.