UAE | Environment
Flipper is in town
Nature designed them with a smile and a brain larger than humans. With their wide foreheads and grinning faces dolphins are easily categorised as "cute" by most people.
- By Anupa Kurian, Readers Editor
- Published: 14:42 June 19, 2008
Nature designed them with a smile and a brain larger than humans. With their wide foreheads and grinning faces dolphins are easily categorised as ‘cute' by most people.
But this is where the problem begins as scientists have classified over 67 species of marine and freshwater dolphins, which includes the white killer whales, sperm whales and porpoises. They all belong to the group of warm-blooded mammals called Cetaceans.
The fact of the matter is that the marine mammal, which has achieved superstardom with the Hollywood blockbuster Flipper and most identified with the species, is the classic grey bottlenose dolphin.
While much has been written about them, nobody has truly managed to decipher the bottlenose. They are not mythical or magical but do have a mysterious quality and intelligence, which makes them the subject of many a scientific study.
What do they do with their large brain? Apparently they use it for complex communication systems that help them survive in the wild. It also means that they are sensitive to pain and stress.
And this extends to their skin, which has nerve endings - it explains why they like being stroked or tickled. The specific global population of bottlenoses is unknown but it has been estimated to be around 125,000.
They are not on the endangered list but are among the protected wildlife species around the world. Depending on the region where they are located, their life expectancy could vary anywhere between 10 and 50 years.
They largely inhabit temperate and tropical waters, which include deeper parts of oceans to bays, lagoons, estuaries and gulfs.
Playful air breathing mammals, the bottlenose has developed quite a reputation as a party animal in its numerous interactions with humans both in the wild and in marine parks and aquariums. We take a look at what makes the aquatic mammal a top billing aquatic star.
Share this article
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Sharjah book fair officially opens
- Help me find my precious cat
- AG expresses confidence in public prosecution's skills
- Meet to discuss ways to secure energy supplies
- Deyaar case: Expert asked to submit detailed report i
- Institute adopts best judicial practices
- Masters in construction law to address sector's concerns
- New council to strike demographic balance
- Technology can negatively affect girls: forum
- Dubai-based British athlete attempts to swim around Palm in record bid
- Steppe Eagle flies back home after enjoying UAE hospitality
- Heavy vehicle speed limits may be introduced
- Private schools form lobby group
- Green moves make desalting plant less damaging
- First well in relief project to honour scientist
Community Reports
-
Help me find my precious cat
Raif, my cute eight-month-old ‘fur ball', went missing in Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen area last month
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
