| When dolphins jump out of water is it a type of communication or are they having fun? Actually, we don't know why many whales and dolphins "breach" or leap above the water. Often it is play, as when young dolphins are surfing and playing in the swells and waves. Some researchers believe that some whales do it to actually view the coastline while they migrate. Some dolphins leap to gain information--for example dusky dolphins have three types of leaps--when they are looking for food, when they are herding fishing and eating, and when they are socializing. The different types of leaps are very distinct. Some are quiet and some are noisy and some are very acrobatic. The sound of a dolphin returning to the water can also be one form of a signal to other dolphins. Or the dolphins may just be looking ahead while they leap--for birds or other leaping dolphins. Kathleen Dudzinski I was wondering why when dolphins and whales are in captivity their dorsal fin doesn't stand up straight like it does in the wild? The best explanation I've heard for why the dorsal fins of dolphins and whales in captivity don't stand up is that those in captivity tend to often swim in the same direction around their tanks. There are no bones in the dorsal fin--it's all soft tissue--and there's no rigid support for its shape. In the wild the fin gets constant pressure from the water on both sides of the fin, but often in captivity only one side of the fin gets consistent pressure. So the fin often folds over. I have seen a few dolphins in the wild with bent fins so it does happen in the wild too. Kathleen Dudzinski Why do some Dolphins have Dorsal fins and some dont? I'm not sure why some dolphins have dorsal fins and some don't. It would seem that through evolution some species developed without a need for dorsal fins. It may be that those species don't need them for balance (like the keel on a boat). Some dolphins have been observed to lose their fins from fishing lines or shark attacks. After the wound heals the dolphins seem healthy and fit. Kathleen Dudzinski Do dolphins drink salt water? If so, why do they not get dehydrated? Dolphins do NOT drink salt water. They do not drink water. They receive their water metabolically from the fish they eat. Kathleen Dudzinski |
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