| Dolphins
are an important part of tangalooma.
They are a vital part of the eco
system.
Because of that, there is a dolphin education program that
aims to teach visitors more about them
Information
Dolphins are aquatic mammals which are closely related to
whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin
in seventeen genera. They vary in size from 1.2 metres and
40 kilograms.
They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of
the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating
fish and squid. The family Delphinidae is the largest in the
Cetacea, and relatively recent: dolphins evolved about ten
million years ago, during the Miocene.
As the name implies, these dolphins tend to be found in the
open seas, unlike the river dolphins, although a few species
such as the Irrawaddy Dolphin are coastal or riverine.
Six of the larger species in the Delphinidae, the Orca and
the Pilot, Melon-headed, Pygmy Killer and False Killer Whales,
are commonly called whales, rather than dolphins.
In addition to being found around Hawaii, dolphins of some
kind occupy virtually all oceans and major seas as well as
some large river systems. Their distribution, however, is
not random. Each species has become specialized to fit into
a particular niche. A niche relates to all aspects of a species'
way of life, including not only its physical home but also
its food, behavior, predators and physical environmental factors
necessary for its survival. In short, the niche defines a
species' role within an ecosystem. For each dolphin species
this role is unique.
They are also sometimes collectively known as "blackfish".
Oceanic dolphins are the members of the Delphinidae family
of cetaceans. These aquatic mammals are related to whales
and porpoises. The Delphinidae vary in size from 1.2 meters
and 40 kg , up to 7 meters and 4.5 tones . Most species weigh
between about 50 and about 200 kg. They are found worldwide,
mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and
all are carnivores, mostly taking fish and squid.
Dolphins are considered to be amongst the most intelligent
of animals and their often friendly appearance and seemingly
playful attitude have made them popular in human culture.
In terms of their feeding habits, all dolphins are carnivores.
Some feed exclusively on either fish or cephalopods (the class
of marine invertebrates including squid, octopus and cuttlefish),
while others have a more varied diet including fish, squid,
crabs, shrimps and lobsters.
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