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Atlantic Spotted Dolphins
(Stenella frontalis)
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These Atlantic spotted dolphins look like a statue, but they are really
in fluid motion, constantly interacting with their families and group,
even other species. There are many ways that they touch each other, and
even use sounds like touch. Tactile communication reinforces bonds and
establishes relationships. Dolphins are very tactile.
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89819Sf3Statue
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This is "Blaze", one of the well known spotted dolphins that
have been studied for over 13 years. Many of this group of about 150
dolphins like to swim with people. They live far from land, otherwise
they would quickly be chased away from too many people who wanted to
swim with them. Sometimes we harm cetaceans because we like them too
much to leave them alone.
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90126SfBr
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These dolphins are echolocating into the sand, listening for prey.
Razor fish and many other creatures live or hide just under the
surface, and sound is the only sense dolphins have that would find them
here. Some dolphins use some of their many kinds of sounds to herd and
even stun prey.
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90036SfHunt
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Many dolphins form friendly relationships, particularly with others
that they grew up with. Swimming together with synchronized movements,
along with much mutual touching, reinforces these relationships. They
may help each other in many ways. Many dolphin species live in very
tight, complex societies.
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90723SfPair1
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Dolphins are very complex creatures. Too just study their parts or
forms doesn't tell us much. We can learn so much about them if they
accommodate to our respectful presence, and we obey their rules. To
observe a close pair like this without interfering can be fun, but also
very productive! All we really have to do is stop acting like we own or
control everything.
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90724SfPair2
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Swimming with wild, free dolphins is a great honor. Unless dolphins
have bad experiences with humans their natural curiosity may bring them
fairly close, but you must be unaggressive and gentle, show them you
mean no harm, and make it clear that they are in charge. Remember that
you are just a curious toy to them.
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90708SfMiaTao
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How streamlined these dolphins are! They can move through the water
with very small movements, and swim many times faster than we can. If
you ever meet dolphins face to face like this treat them with respect.
It is rare that dolphins would trust us enough to approach like this,
and we must learn from the experience because we can then learn so much
more about them, and the oceans we share.
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90717SfHeadon
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Dolphins can make many sounds. Some are for echolocation. Others are
communication, and come in many forms. The sounds are formed in air
sinuses in tissue in front of the skull, below the blowhole. Some may
be sent forward in a beam focused by tissues above the jaw. The
returning echoes pass to the ears through fatty channels in the lower
jaw. Some ocean sounds are heard with the dolphin's whole body.
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90714Sf2Heads
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