We’ve made numerous posts about our local dolphins, the Bottlenose Dolphin, but today, we would like to share some interesting facts about the other species of dolphins that can be found throughout the world. We see and hear about the Bottlenose Dolphin the most because they are the most likely to approach humans, they are the easiest to train, and they are one of the most intelligent species of dolphins out there. However, there are plenty of other species of dolphins in the world and they have some fascinating facts about them!
Different types of dolphins thrive in different areas, and the most common factors that attribute to which kinds of dolphins you may see in a particular area are the available food and the temperature. Dolphins also frequently migrate as well, typically with the temperature to remain in the temperature zone, so dolphins will head towards the equator as it gets colder and towards the poles as it gets warmer.
One of the most recently discovered species of dolphins is the Burrunan Dolphin, found are the Big City Harbor of Australia in 2011. There are believed to be a very small number of the Burrunan Dolphin existence, only one hundred fifty separated in two different areas but both around Australia.
The River Dolphin is one of the few dolphins in the world who prefers freshwater environments over salt water environments. River Dolphins are most commonly found in rivers in South America and Asia. Due to rivers being smaller and more shallow than wide open sea, the River Dolphin is actually much smaller than their oceanic counterparts, growing up to an average of eight feet in length. These dolphins are also found in multiple colors, such as pink, brown, and grey.
A harder to spot species is the Rough Toothed Dolphin, as it typically spends most of its time in waters with deep depths. These dolphins are a little larger than the River Dolphin, coming in at around eight and a half to nine feet in length, and can weigh up to three hundred and fifty pounds. Their most iconic feature is their long snout pairing with their small head.
The Risso Dolphin has a very iconic feature that you could easily pull out of a crowd it has a square shaped head. Although they have no teeth on their upper jaw, they do have peg-like teeth on their lower jaw, perfect for grabbing and locking onto prey.
The last dolphin we are going to touch on is the Striped Dolphin, who gets its name from the blue and white stripes at appear along the side of its body. This dolphin is known for the acrobatic feats it can do when it springs up out of the water.