Dolphins are some of the most intelligent mammals in the world. However, normally when the word dolphin is uttered, people always think about the bottlenose dolphins that seen in movies. But there are many different types and species of dolphins. In fact, there are around thirty kinds of dolphins inhabiting oceans, and if you take the dolphins living in rivers, the number climbs up to forty.

There are thirty-two types of dolphins living in the ocean and there are five types of dolphins living in rivers across the world. In addition there are six different species of porpoises, which are also clubbed with dolphins. While it is not possible to discuss all the types, here are some of them.

The white beaked dolphin grows up to three meters and its coloration is black or gray. The beaks of these dolphins are not white in color, but gray, and the white coloration is restricted to their belly. They swim quite fast and are known to be extremely acrobatic.

Then there is the striped dolphin that is named for the stripes running from the snout, around their eyes, until their tail. The color of this dolphin is quite varied; some are gray, while others can be brown. This dolphin is known to jump high out of the water, and can reach a height of up to seven meters.

The black dolphin is a small one, reaching a length of around 1.4 meters. It is usually dark brown in color, but the belly and throat are white. In addition, it has a white stop behind its flippers and a dark line along its entire body.

The heavenside's dolphin is not that well-known, but lives in the coast of southern parts of Africa, in the Atlantic. The head does not have that much of a conical shape compared to other dolphins and its dorsal fin is triangular. The color of the head and throat is gray, while the dorsal part of the dolphin is bluish black. This dolphin can be mistaken at times for the killer whale, but it is not as big.

The other type of dolphin is the melon headed dolphin, which has a light gray colored body and a dark gray colored face, giving it an appearance as though it has a mask on. The head is rounded and looks like a melon, hence the name. This dolphin swims very fast and splashes a lot of water when making low leaps on the water surface.

Of course, there are still several more types of dolphins, such as the world famous bottlenose dolphin, Risso's dolphin, dusky dolphin, Maui's dolphin, Peale's dolphin, long snouted spinner dolphin, Atlantic humpback dolphin, Clymene dolphin, long beaked dolphin, short beaked dolphin, Commerson's dolphin, Pacific white dolphin and the fearful orca, or killer whale.

Many of these ocean-dwelling dolphins are endangered or threatened and efforts are being made by marine organizations and various governments to restrict their hunting and trade. Also, steps are being taken to curb water pollution of the oceans around the world.

The different river dolphins are also endangered and threatened, especially since they are found in just a few rivers. The four types of dolphins inhabiting rivers are the Yangtze river dolphin, the Amazon river dolphin, the Ganges river dolphin and the La Plata river dolphin. The first 3 types inhabit freshwater rivers, while the last one, the La Plata river dolphin, lives in saltwater estuaries. Also, it is interesting to note that the river-dwelling dolphins have a different appearance and are not similar to the ocean-dwelling dolphins. These dolphins have a large snout, which is around one-fifth of their entire body length and their flippers are broad and short. As river-dwelling dolphins inhabit muddy waters, they rely on other senses, such as smell and sound to locate their prey. Their eyesight is not well-developed and they are nearly blind.

More Articles :

• Common Dolphins Habitat
• Do Wild Dolphins Migration ?
• Dolphin Natural Habitat
• Facts About Maui Dolphin
• Facts On The Dusky Dolphin
• How Many Amazon River Dolphins Are Left ?
• Lifecycle Of A Pacific Dolphin
• Types Of Dolphins
• What Do Dolphins Eat ?
• What Is Being Done To Protect Endangered Dolphins ?
• What Is Being Done To Save The Chinese White Dolphin ?
• What Kind Of Fish Do Dolphins Eat ?
• What Part Of The World Do Dolphins Live In ?
• Where Do Bottlenose Dolphins Live ?

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