Did you know dolphins use signs and sounds to communicate? Baby dolphin emit different sounds than the adults. They use squeals when they are babies before they learn how to click or whistle. Did you know how dolphins navigate in murky waters? Well I'll tell you how. They send out a high pitched pulse from an organ in their head called the melon. When the pulse bounces off of an object the dolphin receives it through its lower jaw and in to its ear. This process is called echolocation. Their echolocation is so sensitive that they can tell the difference between tin cans and aluminum cans. They can also sense fish hiding in sand.
When dolphins dive very deep they shut down their heard and lungs and stop pumping blood so they become less buoyant and sink to the bottom of the ocean. When they want to get up, they do a few quick tail strokes: when they get almost to the surface they open their lungs back up and swim the rest of the way.
I didn't know exactly what echolocation is, but I heard of it. Its an awesome sense! Do other creatures have it, like bats?
ReplyDeleteI hope that we can all go swimming with dolphins in the Florida Keys soon!