Common Dolphin: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Dolphins and Otters · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. Common dolphins may have name-like whistles. A calf takes about 1 year to learn its own, and it stays the same for life.
2. Sometimes pods merge into mega-pods of over 10,000 common dolphins.
3. Common dolphins surf the waves in front of boats and even big baleen whales. They swim fast and love to leap and flip.
4. They eat many kinds of fish and squid, and have been recorded diving up to 200 metres deep.
5. A newborn common dolphin calf is 70 to 100 cm long and weighs about 10 kg.

The quiz

1. How long does it take a calf to learn its signature whistle?

• About a week
• About a month
• About 1 year (correct)
• About 5 years

A calf takes about 1 year to learn its whistle.

2. How many dolphins can a mega-pod hold?

• Over 10,000 (correct)
• About 50
• Around 500
• About 1,000

Mega-pods can hold over 10,000 dolphins.

3. What do common dolphins bow ride on?

• Sharks and rays
• Icebergs
• Sea turtles
• Boats and baleen whales (correct)

They ride the bow waves of boats and baleen whales.

4. How deep have common dolphins been recorded diving?

• Up to 20 metres
• Up to 200 metres (correct)
• Up to 2,000 metres
• Up to 50 metres

They have been recorded diving up to 200 metres deep.

5. How heavy is a newborn common dolphin calf?

• About 1 kg
• About 50 kg
• About 10 kg (correct)
• About 100 kg

A newborn calf weighs about 10 kg.

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