Unexpected facts about dolphins that few people know

Even if we like each other, it is unlikely that you will know me well. The dolphin is a bit cool.

Things you didn't know about dolphins

1. Proudly remember the animal world
2. Only a few species know how to look into a mirror, including my dolphin
3. I am not a fish
4. I can drown
5. Who are sharks?
6. Dolphins evolved from a terrestrial animal
7. Dolphins may not sleep for weeks
8. Most dolphins do not chew their food
9. Dolphins have been serving in the Marines of many countries since the 1960s
10. Dolphins can teach each other how to use the tool
11. Dolphins form friendship through mutual interests
12. Dolphins call each other by their first names
13. Dolphins possess excellent "teamwork" ability
14. Dolphins use prey toxins as "addictive substances"

Hello! I am a dolphin!

Probably among the brothers who were "aired", me and the men were also considered harmonious. It is true that you humans like me, right? I am this kind, gentle, and always looking for ways to help them whenever I can - at least in human stories.

So to strengthen this friendship, I will tell you a few more things about the dolphin family. I am sure that you think you understand but still do not understand anything about me.

1. Proudly remember the animal world

You know I'm smart, right? Although it may not stand first, but in agility, this dolphin is also the type of cheek in the animal kingdom.

But what does not stand first, then ignore. The best thing about dolphins lies in my memory: we can remember things in detail from over 20 years ago. In this respect, our dolphins go far beyond elephants and chimpanzees.

2. Only a few species know how to look into a mirror, including my dolphin

Do you know where humans are different from animals? You can look in a mirror and know that it is an illusion.

In the animal kingdom, few species do that. It turns out that there are only a few highly intelligent animals like elephants, crows, chimpanzees, some monkeys ... And that's right, this dolphin.

3. I am not a fish

Perhaps the name "dolphin" may mislead you. But in fact, my dolphin is not a fish, but an animal. We breed and raise our babies with milk, instead of eggs like other fish.

Next time don't be mistaken!

4. I can drown

Nature is indeed paradoxical. We have a reputation for swimming, but we can still die from choking water. That's interesting, so we had to breathe through our lungs - I heard that scientists said. Just like you humans, I will drown if I get into the lungs.

I'm even worse than a human. Humans need about 30ml of water in the lungs to die, while dolphins can only withstand 15ml. Calculated, that amount of water is about ... a spoonful of the soup.

That is why when we give birth, we have to lay from the tail first. If the head goes out, the dead child chokes water. Remembering when I was born, my mother took me to the surface of the water to breathe immediately.

5. Who are sharks?

Dolphins we are proud to be very well organized and socially organized creatures. Why is that? Ask the sharks.

In the wild, sharks are monsters, our enemies. They often hunt dolphins. But these are just stray babies! A lot of times, we teamed up, using our iron-hard nose to hit the shark's gills, causing them to die.

Another example that demonstrates that dolphin society doesn't lose to any animal is that we have a maternity habit. When one mother is having difficulty labor, another will try to pull the baby out. In the meantime, the whole group will swim around to protect them.

6. Dolphins evolved from a terrestrial animal
Millions of years ago, the ancestors of the dolphins did not swim underwater as we know it today, but rather a completely terrestrial predator. However, about 50 million years ago, a mysterious incident happened that forced them to adapt to the underwater environment, and gradually evolved into a current mammal.

Evidence of this evolutionary history can still be seen in dolphins today. In fact, dolphins and adult whales all have mammalian finger and toe bones, but are surrounded by flesh in the form of anterior and posterior fins.

7. Dolphins may not sleep for weeks
A recently published study showed the dolphins' surprising ability: Can stay awake for days or weeks without sleep. So how do they survive without sleep?

Dolphins possess a very special sleep mechanism, they can give half of their brain to rest at a certain time when the other half is awake - a process called "Unihemispheric sleep". This special sleep mechanism not only prevents dolphins from drowning, but also allows them to stay alert to all dangers and even encourages brain development.

8. Most dolphins do not chew their food
Dolphins do not chew food, or rather they cannot chew. Dolphins' teeth develop for the purpose of clamping down on their prey. Sometimes they will shake or rub the food on the ocean floor to tear it into small pieces, making it easier to swallow.

One theory is that the dolphin's prey is mostly small fish, and they need to quickly grab their prey in their mouth before their meal can swim away. Skip chewing to make sure your prey can't escape.

9. Dolphins have been serving in the Marines of many countries since the 1960s
Since the 1960s, the US Navy has been commissioning adult dolphins and training them to detect underwater targets. Instead of using their sense of smell as a dog, dolphins detect objects by echolocation. Dolphin's echolocation ability goes beyond all the technology of the time, and is still very effective in many practical situations today.

However, animal activists have long opposed the use of dolphins for military purposes.

10. Dolphins can teach each other how to use the tool
The researchers discovered that a population of dolphins living in Shark Bay, Australia, using "hunting aids" are the sponges they collected on the ocean floor to explore the fish. The fish are hiding under the sand, and passing on the use to the offspring in the school.

11. Dolphins form friendship through mutual interests
Researchers from the universities of Bristol, Zurich and Western Australia have discovered that dolphins living in the Shark Bay area form friendships based on common interest - in this case, the habit of using foam. sea to hunt. The feature of using the tool was found primarily in female dolphins, but by studying the behavior of several male dolphins with manifestations, the researchers found a new discovery: The relationship dolphins are formed through the use of general tools.

12. Dolphins call each other by their first names
Dolphins have unique names and they will respond when called. Dolphins in each population possess their own "characteristic whistles", like a name and other dolphins can use that particular whistling to attract the attention of their mates. In fact, dolphins are also an extremely social species.

This discovery has opened up entirely new questions about the level of communication and "vocabulary" of dolphins, as well as can reveal clues about the evolution of our own linguistic skills.

13. Dolphins possess excellent "teamwork" ability
A team of researchers from Bristol University recently discovered that male dolphins can work and collaborate as a team - an attribute previously thought to be unique to humans.

Observing the behavior of the male dolphins when they coordinated flirting with the female, the researchers found cooperation rather than competitive behavior, which is especially unusual in finding a mate in the animal kingdom.

14. Dolphins use prey toxins as "addictive substances"
We know that puffer fish has strong toxin. Obviously dolphins also know this but they use it for "zapping" purposes.

Commonly, puffer fish toxin is deadly. However, in small doses, it can act as an addictive substance. The BBC once filmed a video in which dolphins gently played with a puffer fish for 20 to 30 minutes, then wandered around and did not behave "strange" behaviors.

It is clear that humans are not the only species that purposely seek stimuli to achieve a temporary state of relaxation in the nervous system.