Dolphins are very clever animals, and they are able to solve various problems and puzzles. But their intelligence doesn’t end there. Dolphins can also pass on anything they learn to the rest of their pod, like interesting fishing techniques.
The way they communicate with each other is also complex. They use different clicking sounds and whistle to each other. Dolphins also recognise the ‘voices’ of other dolphins and know exactly who is making which sound. Another thing that shows their intelligence is that they can also recognise themselves in a mirror, and will actually look at themselves and inspect various parts of their body in the mirror.
Half asleep
Would you be able to sleep with one eye open? Bottlenose dolphins can. When they sleep, only one half of their brain goes to sleep, and the opposite eye stays open to keep them safe from predators. The one side of the dolphin’s brain sleeps for about two hours before the other half of his brain gets a chance to sleep.
Sometimes, dolphins will keep swimming while they are sleeping and, other times, they will float like a log in the water to get some rest.
Not a fish
Dolphins are not classified as fish – they are mammals, just like whales. These mammals have lungs and not gills like fish do. They are also warm-blooded and have to go to the surface of the ocean to breathe air into their lungs.
Dolphins don’t lay eggs like fish do either. Their young are born alive, and they drink milk from their mothers.
