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.
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Latest news
- 10 things not to do on Valentine's Day
- Syrian expatriates rally in the UAE
- Last chance for subscribers to win big
- it was just a ‘vampire' game, driver tells court
- Educating fussy Emirati jobseekers
- Abu Dhabi Police rescue victims of car crash
- Dubai Police solve murder mystery
- Restaurateur found dead in Abu Dhabi flat
- Gang of thieves 'used air-freshener' to attack
- 9 injured as paraglider crashes into stadium
- Sharjah festival to enlighten heritage lovers
- Reimbursement of ID card fines to start in March
- Compensation to vary for fire victims
- Bridges needed
- Police honour residents who reported crime
Community Reports
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
