Lesson on Dolphins

9th Grade Science Lesson

by Zach Sheetz

Dolphins

• Many different types of them• Closely related to whales and

porpoises• Most species tend to be 6 feet in

length• We do know that each dolphin has its

own signature whistle which it uses to identify itself.

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Kinds of Dolphins

Quiz

Pantropical Dolphin Orcas Striped Dolphin

Risso’s Dolphin Bottlenose Dolphin Atlantic-Spotted Dolphin

OrcasOrcas hunt everything from fish to walruses—seals, sea lions,

penguins, squid, sea turtles, sharks, and even other kinds of whales.But wherever they are in any of the world's oceans, average-sized

orcas may eat about 500 pounds (227 kilograms) of food a day.

Orcas usually swim at a speed of about 3 to 4 miles (5 to 6.4 kilometers) an hour.

Orcas are toothed whales and a kind of dolphin. They are the largest of all dolphins.

the whale's white underside blends with the light streaming down into the sea from the surface, making it hard to spot from below.

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

They develop unique spots all over their bodies as they get older. Young ones don’t have any spots and those that are mature may only have a handful. It is for this reason that the Atlantic spotted dolphin is often misidentified.

Have a life span of approximately 40 years.

Can swim up to 30 miles per hour and jump over 30 feet.

The Atlantic Spotted Dolphin is relatively small in comparison to others of the dolphin family (Delphinidae).

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Risso’s Dolphin• Risso's dolphins, also known as Grampus, are

one of the larger types of dolphins. Because of their size, they are usually in the deeper parts of the ocean rather than along the shores.

• They are easy to identify because of the crisscross scratch marks on their bodies.

• It is estimated that they live between 20 - 40 years.

• They are blunt-headed and beakless with a tall, pointed dorsal fin and flippers.

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Bottlenose Dolphin• Bottlenose dolphins usually swim 3 to 7 mph

but can swim at a fast speed of 20 to 30 mph.• The name Bottlenose came from the

appearance of their bottle-shaped nose. • The skin has a rubbery feel and is quite

sensitive. It can be scratched and damaged easily but also tends to heal quickly.

• Its smooth texture helps the dolphin to slip easily through the water.

• Bottlenose dolphins can live up to 30 to 40 years old.

Striped Dolphin• The colored markings of the Striped Dolphin

makes them easy to spot. • They have a blue stripe that runs from the

rostrum, which is dark in color, around their eyes and along their backs.

• The bellies of the striped dolphin are either white or pink.

Pan tropical Dolphin• Born without spots, gains them as they get

older.• Distinguished by a dark cape along its back• They swim in large groups • Mostly found in the eastern tropical Pacific

Ocean• Reach 6 to 7 feet, and weigh up to 250

pounds in adulthood.

Quiz

• Which kind of Dolphin tends to be the Largest?

• A) Atlantic Spotted Dolphins• B) Orca Dolphins• C) Risso’s Dolphins• D) Pantropical Dolphins

Answer Correct!

• Orcas are the Largest Dolphin, they can amass to such numbers as the largest male killer whale on record was 9.8 meters(32 ft), weighing over 10 tons (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons), while the largest female was 8.5 meters (28 ft), weighing 7.5 tons (7.4 long tons; 8.3 short tons).

Wrong Answer

• Atlantic Spotted Dolphins are a more smaller dolphin species that is found in the Atlantic Ocean. Length of Atlantic Spotted Dolphins range from for Male 2.26 m (7'5") and Female 2.29 m (7'6")

Wrong Answer

• Risso’s Dolphins tend to be large in size but compared to the size of an orca dolphin they are consider relatively small. Average length is typically 10 feet (3.0 m) although specimens may reach 14.1 feet (4.3 m).

Wrong Answer

• Pantropical Dolphins are much like the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin in size they range from about 6 ft to 8 ft normally.

• This size is common for a lot of dolphin species.

Conclusion

• Dolphins are one of the most fascinating animals in the ocean.

• They mostly travel in groups.• Fish are a common prey for dolphins in

the sea.

• I Hope You Enjoyed My Powerpoint!~Zach Sheetz Return

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