#dolphin post

Chilean Dolphin: The population of the Chilean dolphin, perhaps one of the least studied of all cetaceans, is not known with certainty. There may be as many as a few thousand individuals, although at least one researcher, Steve Leatherwood, has suggested the population may be much lower. Whatever its number, the Chilean dolphin is endemic to the coast of Chile and thought not to migrate.

Pygmy Killer Whale: The pygmy killer whale is a poorly known and rarely seen oceanic dolphin. It derives its common name from sharing some physical characteristics with the Orca. It is the smallest cetacean species that has the word "whale" in its common name. Although the species has been known to be extremely aggressive in captivity, this aggressive behavior has not been observed in the wild.

Rough-Toothed Dolphin: (If these don't look like the closest thing to a prehistoric marine dinosaur..) As the common name for the species implies, the teeth are also distinctive, having a roughened surface formed by numerous narrow irregular ridges. They have been reported to have between nineteen and twenty-eight teeth in each quarter of the jaw. The rough-toothed dolphins jaw on the outside is very distinct. 

Risso's Dolphin: Risso's dolphins have a stratified social organisation. These dolphins typically travel in groups of between 10 and 51, but can sometimes form "super-pods" reaching up to a few thousand individuals. Smaller, stable subgroups exist within larger groups. These groups tend to be similar in age or sex. Long-term bonds are seen to correlate with adult males. Younger individuals experience less fidelity and can leave and join groups. Mothers show a high fidelity towards a group of mother and calves, but it is unclear whether or not these females stay together after their calves leave or remain in their natal pods.

Hourglass Dolphin: The hourglass dolphins is a completely Antarctic species and has been sighted in Arctic waters. Few have been seen near neighboring islands. This species prefers colder water so they spend most time closer to the surface where the temperature is around -0.3°C to 7°C. The warmest waters hourglass dolphins have reportedly swam in was around 14°C. During the warmer months, hourglass dolphins are said to move more south toward the pole to find cooler waters. The furthest northern sighting of an hourglass dolphin was off the cost of Chile during a winter month. Hourglass dolphins tend to migrate more north during the winter.

Clymene Dolphin: It is the only confirmed case of hybrid speciation in marine mammals, descending from the spinner dolphin and the striped dolphin. The Clymene dolphin is endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. Its full range is still poorly understood, particularly at its southern end. The species certainly prefer temperate and tropical waters. 

Pacific White-Sided Dolphin: also known as the hookfin porpoise, is an active dolphin found in the cool or temperate waters of the North Pacific Ocean. These dolphins keep close company. White-sided dolphins swim in groups of 10 to 100, and can often be seen doing somersaults. Members form a close-knit group and will often care for a sick or injured dolphin.

Amazon River Dolphin: also known as the boto or pink river dolphin, it is a species that is endemic to South America. The Amazon river dolphin is the largest species of river dolphin, with adult males reaching 408lbs in weight, and 8.2ft in length. Adults acquire a pink color, more prominent in males. They have one of the widest ranging diets, feeding on up to 53 different species of fish, such as croakers, catfish, tetras and piranhas. They also consume other animals such as river turtles, aquatic frogs, and freshwater crabs.