Toothed Whales | Odontoceti
Odontocetes are toothed whales classified under Cetaceans that include mammals such as the sperm whale, beaked whales, porpoise, and dolphins. Male and female Odontocetes show distinct sexual dimorphism. Odontocetes are acknowledged to have well-developed hearing senses with some species being very intelligent. They also have conical teeth and a layer of fat beneath their skin for keeping them warm while in cold waters. Additionally, most species of the Odontocetes are sociable with smaller Odontocetes like the dolphins kept in captivity for scientific research and entertaining people by doing tricks. Others are followed or observed in the ocean in an activity called whale watching.
A dolphin’s diet typically consists of a variety of fish, squid, shrimp, jellyfish, and octopuses. Their diet also depends on the species of the dolphin (there are more than 40 species of dolphin), where the dolphin lives, and the other wildlife that lives around them.
The life expectancy of a dolphin is affected by their habitat, geography, diet, level of endangerment, health, social structure, and species. Dolphins are able to live for an average of 20 years, and female dolphins tend live longer than males. Dolphins that live in captivity tend to have shorter lifespans than those in the wild.
Dolphins are able to live in all of the world’s oceans and in some rivers. Not all species of dolphins are able to live in every environment, except for the bottlenose dolphin who is able to live in almost every ocean except for the Arctic and Antarctic ocean. Most dolphins prefer tropical and temperate waters since they are warm-blooded mammals.
