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CITE
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https://www.q-files.com/life/mammals/dolphins-and-porpoises/.
Accessed 11 Dec. 2019.
Dolphins and porpoises 2013. Life, Mammals . Retrieved 11 December 2019, from
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Life, Mammals , s.v. "Dolphins and porpoises," accessed December 11, 2019.
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Dolphins and porpoises
Bottlenose dolphin
Dolphins, like whales, are mammals that live permanently in the water. Along with whales and porpoises, they belong to the cetacean group. There are 41 species of dolphin, ranging in size from less than 1.4 metres (less than 5 feet) long to the killer whale, or orca, about 9 metres (30 feet) in length. Dolphins have a single backward-curving, dorsal (back) fin, and many species have a beak-like snout. All dolphins have teeth and feed mostly on fish or squid, which they chase through the water at speed. They have good eyesight and exceptional hearing.
Atlantic spotted dolphin
A pod of common dolphins
Pods
Most dolphins are social animals. A group of 10–12 dolphins swimming together is called a pod. They sometimes merge temporarily to form larger groups, called "superpods", which can number up to 10,000.
Male dolphins are called bulls, females cows and their young calves. Pods may stay together for life. The dolphins call to one another using squeaks and clicks. Individuals frequently move between groups, but some species, such as the killer whale, form stable family pods.


Changing the type of nets used to catch tuna fish have resulted in the decrease in unintentional dolphin kills by up to 50% since the 1980s.

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