DOLPHIN

introduction 

Dolphin are not fish , though they are found in water . They are mammals . The baby dolphins are fed on their mother's milk. Most dolphin live in the ocean , though many are found to the shore . they are very friendly and intelligent animals. They look is if they are always smiling. They are often found swimming along the sides of ships.

 The skin of dophins is smooth and rubbery. They have a layer of fat under the skin called blubber . dolphins swim in the water with a pair of forelimbs called 'flippers' . Dolphins can see and hear well both below and above water . They speak to each other by making sounds. Male dolphins are called  bulls and female dolphin is called cows dolphin live together in large family group

Chapter I

 What Does a Baby Dolphin Do?

 A baby bottlenose dolphin swims as soon as it is born. There is so much more the baby dolphin will learn to do in the first hour of life!

 The dolphin baby is called a calf. Dolphins breathe air, so a newborn calf must swim to the surface of the water to breathe right away. Sometimes the mother will help push the newborn up for air. Next, the calf must learn to drink its mother's milk. Milk helps the dolphin grow quickly and develop a thick layer of fat called blubber under its skin. Blubber helps keep a dolphin's body warm.

 Dolphins come up to the surface to breathe air once or twice a minute.

The newborn baby bottlenose dolphin is about 3 feet (1 meter) long and weighs about 30 pounds (14 kilograms). In just two months, the calf will weigh twice as much. When the dolphin is all grown, it can be from 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 4 meters) long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms).

 The dolphin calf drinks its mother's milk for at least a year. When the dolphin is between 5 and 15 months old, it begins to eat fish, too. The calf stays close to its mother for a year or more.

 Dolphins are social animals and enjoy being with other dolphins. They live in groups known as pods. The smallest group has pairs of dolphins made up of the mother and her calf. Larger groups may have three generations of dolphins-grandparents, their children, and grandcalves ! Sometimes different pods may join together for a little while.

Chapter 2

 How Do Baby Dolphins Get Along?

 Baby dolphins are playful with each other. They chase each other for fun and play catch by tossing bits of seaweed to each other. Sometimes dolphins will ride on the waves that boats make as they pass. Often dolphins will perform fantastic flips and spins high above the water.

Dolphins jump up and wiggle in the airl

 When a calf plays with other young dolphins, the calf's mother keeps an eye on it. And when the mother goes off to hunt fish, other dolphins watch her beloved calf. These babysitters are called aunts.

 Just like other animal babies, dolphin calves like to be near each other. When dolphins take a nap, they stay close enough to touch.

 Dolphins nap near the surface so they can breathe.

A mother knows her calf by sight and by sound.. Each dolphin makes its own special whistling sound that is his or her "name." A dolphin whistles its "name" as if to call out, "It's me! I'm over here!"

 Sound travels well through water. Dolphins use sound waves to find their way, hunt fish, and look out for danger. Using sound in this way is called echolocation. Dolphins send out clicking sounds. The sound waves bounce off anything in their path and send back an echo. Dolphins hear the echo and can figure out what and where the object is. They can tell the object's size, shape, and how fast it is moving.

 Dolphins spend much of their time hunting for food. Echolocation helps them find their next meal.

 A dolphin swims by moving its tail fin up and down. It also uses its tail fin to help it catch fish to eat. The dorsal fin on top keeps a dolphin upright. A dolphin uses its front pectoral fins to steer in the direction it wants to go..

 A dolphin breathes air through the blowhole that is at the top of its head. The whistle and click sounds come from the dolphin's forehead.

 Dolphins look like they are smiling because of the way the lower part of their jaws sticks out. Behind that smile are about 80 to 100 cone-shaped teeth. A dolphin does not use its teeth to chew. Dolphins swallow whatever they catch whole.

 Dolphins have very sharp vision. Their big eyes con see well in or out of the water

Chapter 3

 How Do Dolphins Live?

 Living in groups is good for dolphins.

 1. Raising Their Young

 It is easier to keep the youngest members safe because many dolphin aunts watch them.

 2. Finding Food

 Dolphins circle a school of fish while other dolphins feed. Then the dolphins change places.

 3. Caring for Others

 If a dolphin in the group is hurt, all the other dolphins try to help it.

 4. Fighting Sharks

 When an enemy, like a shark, comes near, adult dolphins may attack it. Together, dolphins are able to kill a shark.