From longevity to sleep habits, here are seven fun facts about our aquatic friends that may surprise you.
1. Of the 40+ dolphin species, bottlenose dolphins tend to have the longest lifespan. Males live into their 40s and 50s, and females can live more than 60 years.
2. Believe it or not, bottlenose dolphins are not known for their speed. They typically swim at about 2 mph. When motivated, though, they can reach speeds of more than 30 mph!
3. When sleeping, dolphins keep one eye open and only use half of their brain.
4. While bottlenose dolphins have a mouthful of teeth (between 72 and 104), they only use them to catch their food, not chew it. Instead, they swallow their food whole.
5. Dolphins eat more than just fish—they also consume squid and crustaceans.
6. Dolphins do not drink water while swimming. Instead, they get their fill of water from the fish they eat.
7. Dolphins create names for each other using a unique combination of whistles, clicks, squeaks and other acoustic sounds—and they can remember these names for more than 20 years.
Browse our list of local companies offering dolphin cruises.