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Can a dolphin live in fresh water? What's the largest dolphin? How long can Pacific white-sided dolphins hold their breath? Where are Pacific white-sided dolphins found in the wild? How does the coloration of the Pacific white-sided dolphin help it to survive in the wild? Why are Pacific white-sided dolphins also called "lags"? What do Pacific white-sided dolphins eat in the wild? What do the dolphins eat at Shedd? What are threats to Pacific white-sided dolphins in the wild? How long do Pacific white-sided dolphins live? How old are the dolphins at Shedd? What are the names of the dolphins at Shedd? Are Pacific white-sided dolphins endangered? How fast do Pacific white-sided dolphins swim? How do the dolphins make those sounds?  What's the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise?
First, all cetaceans are really whales. The scientific community has broken them down into smaller groups due to some physical characteristics. Whales are the largest, then dolphins, then porpoises. Dolphins have a beaked rostrum (like a bottlenose) on the front of their face and have conical shaped teeth. Porpoises have more of a blunt rostrum and flatter or rounded teeth. Finally, the dorsal fin on the back of a dolphin is hooked, whereas the dorsal fin of a porpoise is shaped more like a triangle.Can a dolphin live in fresh water?
Only for a limited time - most dolphins need salt water for buoyancy and osmoregulation. There are, however, five species of river dolphin. They are found in South America and Asia.top What's the largest dolphin?
The largest dolphin is actually the killer whale, or orca (Orcinus orca). The males can reach about 30 feet in length and females can reach about 25 feet in length. top How long can Pacific white-sided dolphins hold their breath?
A Pacific white-sided dolphin can hold its breath for approximately 10 minutes.top Where are Pacific white-sided dolphins found in the wild?
They range from the Aleutian Islands through the Gulf of Alaska to the tip of Baja, California, in the eastern Pacific; and from Japan to the Kuril Islands in the western Pacific.top How does the coloration of the Pacific white-sided dolphin help it to survive in the wild?
Pacific white-sided dolphins have a dark gray or black back, white belly and a distinctive white or gray stripe on both sides. This contrast is called countershading. The black or dark back of the dolphin allows it to blend in with the ocean and protects it from predators from above, and the white undersides camouflages it when viewed from below against light from the sky.top Why are Pacific white-sided dolphins also called "lags?"
"Lag" is the short form of the Pacific white-sided dolphin's scientific name, Lagenoryhnchus obliquidens.top What do Pacific white-sided dolphins eat in the wild?
In the wild, Pacific white-sided dolphins eat fishes that live in large schools, such as anchovy, hake, herring, sardines and squid.top What do the dolphins eat at Shedd?
At Shedd, Pacific white-sided dolphins eat herring, capelin and squid that are restaurant-grade (the same quality used for human consumption). Each dolphin eats about 20 to 30 pounds of food per day.top What are threats to Pacific white-sided dolphins in the wild?
Pacific white-sided dolphins are very susceptible to entanglement in drift nets and gill nets. Pollution and boat traffic also pose threats. Killer whales and sharks are natural predators of Pacific white-sided dolphins.top How long do Pacific white-sided dolphins live? How old are the dolphins at Shedd?
Scientists still have much to learn about the life span of this species. The eastern Pacific populations are believed to live 13 to 18 years in the wild, while the western Pacific populations have average life spans of 8 to 11 years. In zoos and aquariums, Pacific white-sided dolphins live into their 20s or older. Our dolphins were born between 1985 and 1988.top What are the names of the dolphins at Shedd?
The dolphins are named Kri (KREE - "Nine"), Sira (SEE-rah - "Side That Is White"), Tique (TEE-kay - "Born In Water"), Piquet (pih-KET - "Female of Small Stature") and Katrl (kah- TRIL - "To Breathe Air").top Are Pacific white-sided dolphins endangered?
No. A recent estimate of the population of animals in the central North Pacific ranged between a minimum of about 500,000 to about 930,000.top How fast do Pacific white-sided dolphins swim?
Pacific white-sided dolphins are among the fastest and most acrobatic of all dolphin species. They can swim up to 25 miles per hour.
top How do the dolphins make those sounds?
Like other dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins do not have vocal cords. The sounds they make are transmitted through the blowhole on top of their heads. These sounds are different from echolocation sounds and are used for communication.top |
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