Biodiversity #11 – The Dolphin. A cetacean mammal, closely related to whales and porpoises and technically includes a number of freshwater river dolphins, and the orcas, false and pygmy killer whales and pilot whales. Descendants of terrestrial mammals – they entered the water roughly 55 million years ago i.e., they had the good sense to go back in!
Dolphins are considered one of Earth’s most intelligent animals. They are highly social animals. They also display forms of care-giving even across species and have been known to protect swimmers from sharks by circling the swimmer and even charging the shark. They also display various forms of playful behaviour as anyone who has the good fortunate to encounter dolphins in the ocean will know. I had that chance in the Cocos Keeling Islands.
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