BEHAVIOR IN THE WATER
Porpoising
Typical
swimming speed is about 12 miles per hour. Short bursts are possible
up to 22 MPH. When dolphins
repeatedly bow (or jump) as they swim rapidly forward, it is called
"porpoising". In this beautiful
video (courtesy of Ron Graening and
Adolf Wegmann) a large pod of dolphins is seen porpoising.
This is an odd term for a dolphin, as a porpoise is a different animal
than a dolphin. Porpoises are in the same class of animals called Cetaceans, but are a different species.
Perhaps the name porpoising was
coined because porpoises often swim in this manner. Porpoising while
swimming is an advantage
to a marine mammal such as the
dolphin because it allows the animal to spend a portion of its swimming
time out of the water
where there is less drag or
resistance against its body. Thus, it allows the animal to achieve
faster swimming speeds. It
may, indirectly, also provide more
time for the animal to view its environment above the surface and may
provide a fun
activity for the dolphin. This
behavior, when associated with a ship's wake, is termed "bow riding",
another form of porpoising.
Social Interactions
A major part of the dolphin's day is spent in social behaviors. Social
interactions between dolphins
may include rubbing, touching
pectoral fins, nursing, mating, and synchronous displays (performing
behaviors together
such as bows). Athletic behaviors
may include breaching (a form of a bow), porpoising and spy hopping (the
dolphin's head
rising vertically out of the water
to look around). Dolphins appear to prefer association with other particular dolphins
and also appear to recognize each other even after being separated for long periods of time.
Aggressive
behaviors are used to establish dominance in the pod, a sign
of frustration or annoyance, or a
response to aggression from others. Agression is used as a tool to
manage relationships
with others (as most animals do).
They may include tail slapping (kerplunking), jaw popping, pectoral
slapping (as seen in
the video below), chasing,
head-to-head racing, squawking at each other and raking. Males fighting
with each other for
access to sexually available females
is another example of aggressive behavior. Following such behavior, the
aggressors will
often touch each other in a social
way, almost as if they are "making up". Sometimes the aggressive
behavior is more psychological
(e.g. taking an arched or "S"
position) than physical (e.g. fin and tail slaps, open mouths,
squawking). Most animals (including
dolphins) associate various body
positions with what another animal is about to do. Aggression is one of
those predictors
of behavior.
In the
following video a 19 month old female dolphin calf is attempting to
assert herself with her mother nearby.
The calf breaches (comes out of the
water, landing on her side). Breaching is an aggresive behavior. The
mother, a 10 year
old dolphin, immediately swims
alongside the calf to re-establishes HER dominance by slapping her
pectoral fin near the
calf. Young animals perform these
behaviors as a preparation for adult life when they will attempt to be
the dominant dolphin
in their adult pods.
Playing dolphins
Dolphin reproduction is due to be a mammal, most similar to humans. For this, the male initiates a courtship ritual in order to woo the female with which to mate and thus safeguard the species. Courtship techniques depend dolphin species layer . Some use a trouser technique in which the males " sing " love poems in order to woo the female .
Once you get positive response from the female coupling phase begins between the two members . These matings are carried out at certain times of the year depending on the life habitat of the species. The colder areas limit their reproduction to the time of the spring while species living in areas of warm and temperate waters breed throughout the year.
Once completed the coupling step , the female enters development phase in which dolphin future will grow inside. This stage is characterized by the long time it takes to successfully desarrolarse as it is , approximately, on the 12 months. During these 12 months pregnant females are easier prey and palatable so swimming in the middle of the herds protected by males . The reproductive cycle of the family of toothed whales (dolphins ) is more than two years since the female needs to recover from the previous effort .
Birth is the expected time for the mother and that is the time that follows that weighing usually left out during migraciaones . So many females often assist the mother in the birth of the newest member of the herd , so that, in story looks the young dolphin , females help you rise to the surface so you can get your first injection of air. Then the young dolphin down to find his mother and get your first meal. Dolphin milk is highly rich in fats and proteins leading to faster growth of the offspring .
Finally say that dolphins have a low reproductive rate resulting in a herd if is reduced dramatically their number will take some time until you can recupar the previous number of members. Making a comparison with the dolphins is the same as nosocurre to us.
Playing dolphins
Dolphin reproduction is due to be a mammal, most similar to humans. For this, the male initiates a courtship ritual in order to woo the female with which to mate and thus safeguard the species. Courtship techniques depend dolphin species layer . Some use a trouser technique in which the males " sing " love poems in order to woo the female .
Once you get positive response from the female coupling phase begins between the two members . These matings are carried out at certain times of the year depending on the life habitat of the species. The colder areas limit their reproduction to the time of the spring while species living in areas of warm and temperate waters breed throughout the year.
Once completed the coupling step , the female enters development phase in which dolphin future will grow inside. This stage is characterized by the long time it takes to successfully desarrolarse as it is , approximately, on the 12 months. During these 12 months pregnant females are easier prey and palatable so swimming in the middle of the herds protected by males . The reproductive cycle of the family of toothed whales (dolphins ) is more than two years since the female needs to recover from the previous effort .
Birth is the expected time for the mother and that is the time that follows that weighing usually left out during migraciaones . So many females often assist the mother in the birth of the newest member of the herd , so that, in story looks the young dolphin , females help you rise to the surface so you can get your first injection of air. Then the young dolphin down to find his mother and get your first meal. Dolphin milk is highly rich in fats and proteins leading to faster growth of the offspring .
Finally say that dolphins have a low reproductive rate resulting in a herd if is reduced dramatically their number will take some time until you can recupar the previous number of members. Making a comparison with the dolphins is the same as nosocurre to us.
Reproduction and sexuality
See also: Bottlenose dolphin#Reproduction
Dolphin copulation happens belly to belly; though many species engage in lengthy foreplay, the actual act is usually brief, but may be repeated several times within a short timespan. The gestation period varies with species; for the small Tucuxi dolphin, this period is around 11 to 12 months, while for the orca, the gestation period is around 17 months. Typically dolphins give birth to a single calf, which is, unlike most other mammals, born tail first in most cases.[45] They usually become sexually active at a young age, even before reaching sexual maturity. The age of sexual maturity varies by species and gender.
Dolphins are known to display non-reproductive sexual behavior, engaging in masturbation, stimulation of the genital area of other individuals using the rostrum or flippers and homosexual contact.[46][47]Various species of dolphin have been known to engage in sexual behavior up to and including copulation with dolphins of other species. Sexual encounters may be violent, with male dolphins sometimes showing aggressive behavior towards both females and other males.[48] Occasionally, dolphins behave sexually towards other animals, including humans
Jumping and playing
Dolphins frequently leap above the water surface, this being done for various reasons. When travelling, jumping can save the dolphin energy as there is less friction while in the air.[65] This type of travel is known as porpoising.[65] Other reasons include orientation, social displays, fighting, non-verbal communication, entertainment and attempting to dislodge parasites.[66][67]
Dolphins show various types of playful behavior, often including objects, self-made bubble rings, other dolphins or other animals.[68][8][69] When playing with objects or small animals, common behavior includes carrying the object or animal along using various parts of the body, passing it along to other members of the group or taking it from another member, or throwing it out of the water.[68] Dolphins have also been observed harassing animals in other ways, for example by dragging birds underwater without showing any intent to eat them.[68] Playful behaviour that involves an other animal species with active participation of the other animal can also be observed however. Playful human interaction with dolphins being the most obvious example, however playful interactions have been observed in the wild with a number of other species as well, such as Humpback Whales and dogs
