Leaders

Newborn dolphins stay very close to their mothers, following their every move. They learn how to maneuver in the water by swimming in their mother’s “slipstream,” the hydrodynamic wake that develops as the mother swims.

Nurturers

Baby dolphins rely on mother’s milk for the first 6 -12 months of their lives, until they learn how to hunt for fish. A calf typically spends 3 to 6 years close to mom.

Caregivers

Experienced dolphin mothers are excellent caretakers and typically lend a fin when needed. New mothers often have an experienced female relative help newborns to the surface when born.

Guardians

Bottlenose dolphins sleep with half of their brain awake at a time. They do this to keep their eyes on their pod, make sure the group sticks together, and look out for predators like sharks.

Companions

Social connections are evident in all dolphin species. Family groups called pods swim and travel together. They cooperate to catch food, raise their young and defend each other from predators like sharks.

Communicators

Dolphin newborns develop “signature whistles” used to identify one another, like a name. Dolphins make an array of vocalizations, including whistles, clicks, squeaks, barks, groans and yelps to communicate. Research suggests that male calves learn to mimic their mother’s signature whistle, while female calves develop a unique signature whistle.

Providers

Dolphin mothers use a variety of techniques to hunt for food. They often produce bubbles to herd fish prey to the surface, use their tail flukes to produce “mud rings” stirring bottom sediment to surround fish. They also use a hunting technique called “fish-whacking,” where they use their tail to hit and stun fish, making them easier to catch.

Innovators

Dolphins use tools. They’ve been documented fitting marine sponges over their beaks (rostrums) to protect themselves from sharp rocks as they forage for fish.