Dolphins are aquatic mammals in the clade Odontoceti, which includes various families like Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins) and Platanistidae (Indian river dolphins). There are 40 extant dolphin species. Dolphins are streamlined and can reach speeds of 18 mph. Their conical teeth help them catch fast-moving prey, and they have acute hearing suited for both air and water.
Although most dolphins prefer warm tropical waters, some, like the right whale dolphin, thrive in colder regions. Their diet primarily consists of fish and squid, with orcas known to eat large mammals. Female dolphins usually mate every two to three years and solely raise their calves, which are born in spring and summer.
Dolphins communicate through a variety of clicks and whistles. They face threats from hunting, bycatch, habitat loss, and marine pollution, and are often depicted in various cultures. Many are kept in captivity, with bottlenose dolphins being the most common in marine shows.
