Heaviside's Dolphin: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Dolphins · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. It never whistles. Its clicks are so high-pitched that killer whales cannot hear them, which may help it stay hidden.
2. It surfs coastal waves and leaps straight up, then slips back in headfirst with hardly a splash.
3. In South Africa, it rests and plays near the shore in the morning, then heads out to sea in the afternoon to feed.
4. Its name is a mix-up. A Captain Haviside brought one to Britain, but a scientist confused him with a surgeon called Heaviside.
5. It sticks close to home. Some have been spotted in the very same place for up to 10 years.

The quiz

1. Why might its very high clicks help this dolphin?

• They travel farther than any other sound
• Killer whales cannot hear them (correct)
• They attract killer whales
• They help it see colours

The clicks are outside what killer whales can hear.

2. How does it land after one of its famous leaps?

• Belly first with a big splash
• Tail first
• Headfirst with almost no splash (correct)
• Sideways with a loud slap

It re-enters headfirst with almost no splash.

3. In South Africa, when does it head out to sea to feed?

• In the afternoon (correct)
• In the morning
• Only in winter
• It never leaves the shore

It moves offshore in the afternoon and back inshore in the morning.

4. How did Heaviside's dolphin get its English name?

• It was named after a ship
• It was named after a town
• It was named after the first person to swim with it
• A scientist mixed up a captain with a surgeon (correct)

Captain Haviside was mistaken for the surgeon John Heaviside.

5. How long have some been seen returning to the same spot?

• Up to 10 years (correct)
• Up to 50 years
• Up to 80 years
• Never: they keep moving

Some have been seen at the same place for up to 10 years.

More about the Heaviside's Dolphin

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries