Eshan Maitra
“Squeehe’ek ueeh’k kk’k ee’eek!” (Hello human, how you doing?) – that’s what the little dolphin said to me when we met. No, seriously! Well, seeing a dolphin for the first time is just as fascinating. If you are lucky enough, you could even meet one in person at the coast of Florida or Sidney. Simply to put it, Dolphins are awesome! What not to like about them. Their laughs and playful tricks. Also one of the best thing about them is, they are the second smartest being right after human. So, if you are an introvert type, you can make friends with a dolphin. Some of them might turn out to be even smarter. It is true that, biologically their brain size ratio with the body mass, is the second largest after human. That makes up for their intelligence, social relationships, hunting strategies, empathy and emotions.
Dolphin happens to be kind of like our cousins in the ancestry linage of the history of mammal evolution. Who went into the ocean 55 million years ago and became aquatic mammals. Scientists groups the dolphins in the group of aquatic mammals, called the Cetaceans. Along with the whales, porpoises and 83 other species. Who share common DNA link with the Angulates or the hoofed animals. Originally first land mammals entered the ocean with sharper teeth, as large predators. But in the course of evolution, about 35 million years ago, when the temperature cooled off a little more. Shortage of prey decreased the number of aquatic mammals by a big number. The smaller group of Cetaceans who survived had smaller teeth and was called the Odontocetes. But winded up with larger and complex brains. Which allowed them for complex social relations, echolocation to navigate and communicate. Modern dolphin’s brains are so large that they are Encephalization Quotient. Simply to put it, they have the second largest brain in size ratio with their average body mass, is right after human.
Now let us get into the traits that make them unique than a bicycle riding raccoon or military trained dogs. Firstly, their advanced echolocation techniques. (Even humans can’t do that! May be in the near future.) They send out high pitch sound waves to call, greet or even have conversations. As the sounds differ. Dolphins even have physical gestures, individual characteristics and personalities. Ask a Dolphin trainer! They train dolphins both with whistle sounds and hand signs. Scientists at the Florida shore observed a very interesting way of catching fish by a group of dolphins. One dolphin swims around a fish school then throws off mud. While another gives signal that fishes are trapped in the mud-net. As those fishes try to escape that figurative nets by jumping outside. Dolphins easily catch them with their mouth. Pretty cool way of fishing. Other group around Australia, was observed using sponge on the tip of their mouth to avoid scratches while swimming through corals. Most interestingly they pass down these inheritate abilities to their offspring. Through guiding and training. Reasons why, their communication styles (much like dialects) vary in different regions and groups. They can even mimic actions. Some were even seen trying to mimic sounds. There lots of crazy Dolphin stuffs on youtube. Unlike other animals or mammals. Dolphins can recognize their body into the mirror. Experiments shows that, it is not easy to fool a Dolphin through the means of distraction. They can differ between sound and actions. They have distinct sense of their knowledge and much confidence about it too. That means, they are thinkers and intellectuals.
Much like humans, Dolphins do have emotions. They too fall in love. Dolphins often raise their children as couple. Share strong feeling of attachment. Even mourn for passed away family members or close friends. They show empathy toward others. There are many stories drowning persons brought up to the surface to let them breath. Proves, Dolphins also have feelings. Do they dream too? I wonder.