Dolphins can be found living in oceans, coastal regions and even some species are found in rivers.

Dolphins in Australia are ocean or coastal dwellers. The Bottlenosed Dolphin lives in both of these areas all over the world.

Did you know that scientists believe that dolphins have evolved from a land mammal, probably similar to a dog or wolf and that they once lived on land with hooves? Hard to believe isn’t it?Did you know that the dolphin in the television series ‘flipper’ was a Bottlenosed Dolphin?Did you know that, like all cetaceans, the dolphin breathes oxygen from the water’s surface?Did you know that dolphins make clicking and buzzing noises? These noises actually help the dolphin to locate things and objects in front of them. This is called echolocation.

Dolphins can swim up to 50km per hour. They have a very strong, muscular tail called a fluke. The fluke helps the dolphin swim on its belly, back and side. It can even lift itself out of the water and swim on the fluke. They use this powerful fluke to steer and change direction, as well as propulsion.

The dolphin is a mammal. This means that the dolphin gives birth to its live young, and feeds milk to it. Most baby dolphins will live with the mother, and stay with the dolphin family it is born into.When the baby is born, a female dolphin in the group pushes the newborn to the surface, so it can take its first breath.A baby dolphin is called a calf.

Most dolphins prefer to eat fish and squid, but have been found to eat other marine animals such as crustaceans and octopus. They use a clicking sound, called echolocation, to find animals to eat. Dolphins hunt their food in packs, helping each other to find enough food for the group.Most dolphins have between 100 and 160 teeth, but they do not use their teeth to chew their food. They use their cone-shaped teeth to grip onto the slippery prey they have caught.

1. What type of animal is a dolphin?2. Where can dolphins be found?3. What does echolocation mean?4. A dolphin is a cetacean, what does this mean?5. Explain how dolphins move?6. What do dolphins commonly feed on?7. How many teeth do dolphins have?8. What is a baby dolphin called?

Early finishers: Collect a diagram of a dolphin, label and decorate.