Check it out…. For dolphins, playing also keeps their keen senses sharp and at their best. Dolphins communicate through sounds and movement, so they will use jumping to communicate with a mate or with another pod as they can hear and interpret the splashes. Apparently one of the reasons they jump is to show other dolphins their own agility and strength. This is for many reasons — to check out the weather, identify potential threats, or to locate prey.
Some scientists believe that dolphins jump while traveling to save energy since going through the air consumes less energy than going through the water. Jumping is a way for dolphins to keep clean and get rid of nasty parasites.
Would you like to see a dolphin jump in the air and make memories of a lifetime? Book one of our fun, sight-seeing dolphin boat tours, and cruise through beautiful Boca Ciega Bay! Call today for more information or to check availability! In the ocean dolphins use flips and leaps as a form of play and to communicate to other dolphins in their pod.
Dolphins use jumping and other forms of body language to communicate a number of things to their pod such as letting their friends and family know of nearby prey , immediate danger lurking in the area and to show off their level of health and fitness among other things. When underwater dolphins are able to use their tail and body to propel themselves to speeds of over 25 miles per hour.
This speed not only helps with jumping but is also used for avoiding attacks from potential predators or threats. In order for them to jump high into the air dolphins will quickly generate speed underwater before performing a jump and their light streamlined body makes it easy for them to leap into their air at such amazing heights. Although dolphins are known for their acrobatic behaviors not all species of dolphin are interested in being flashy and some species are rarely spotted due to their docile lifestyle and inactive attitude.
In fact a dolphins personality and outgoing or shy behavior can vary largely from one species to the next. While boating, at least one pod of dolphins is normally seen. Sightings occur on the docks, too. Anecdotally, I have seen dolphins swim next to me while working on the docks of Charleston. Bottlenose dolphins are the most abundant marine mammal species here 1. It is illegal to feed or disturb them, but we can have lots of fun watching them.
Bottlenose dolphins take advantage of low tide and become active as they strand feed. Strand feeding is when the dolphins swim up to the shore, driving fish onto the land, much like cattlemen herding livestock. The dolphins strand themselves on the bank along with the fish, lean to their sides, open their mouths and grab their prey. Then, they wiggle back into the water. This feeding mechanism only occurs in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina 4 , and is most common during September and October because this is when the mullet population is highest 5.
Dolphins like to swim at the bow of boats because the force from the boat while underway pushes the dolphins forward, making it easier for them to swim. Swimming next to the boats may be out of curiosity, or entertaining for them. Unfortunately, some people have been known to feed the dolphins so that may be a factor also. As aforementioned, this is illegal. The height a dolphin can jump varies by species, and if they are wild or in an aquarium setting where they are trained to maximize their capabilities.
The wild bottlenose dolphin can jump up to 15 feet. The trained bottlenose of the National Aquarium in Baltimore can reach almost 20 feet 2. They jump to gain distance, show dominance, to attract mates and for fun. Some dolphins chose to stay in a general area, however most are migratory.
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