NAME
Dolphins

SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
They can be 12 feet long and weigh 1500 pounds. They breathe air and the babies drink their mother's milk. Dolphins are warm-blooded and have a backbone.

Dolphins breathe through their blow hole, a nostril, or opening for breathing on top of their heads. They can close the blow hole and stay under water up to six minutes. When dolphins sleep they take little naps near the water surface. They bob up and down, coming to the surface to breathe.

HABITAT
Most dolphins live in many oceans. Some dolphins live in rivers around the world.

DIET
The shape of the dolphins head and the number and shape of its teeth shows what it eats. Some of them are squid, small fish,and salmon.

HABITS
Dolphins are very smart. They can think ahead and plan. they learn and remember tricks and make up games.
Mother dolphins have one baby at a time. When it's born other dolphins go in a circle around the mother to protect it from danger in the ocean. After the baby is born the mother hurries and pushes it to the surface for air.

CLASSIFICATION
Mammal

There are many kinds of dolphins. The bottle nosed, the Pacific white-sided, the spinner, the common, and the killer whale.

Dolphins have been known to help people. They have saved drowning swimmers and they have helped guide lost ships.

Bibliography:

Dolphins by June Bebrens.

Dolphins and Porpoises by Beth Brustl, 1996.

A charm of Dolphins.

Dolphins and Porpoises (Great Creatures of the World) by Janelle Htherly and Delia Nicholls , 1990

My Diorama