DOLPHINS

Essay text:

What does a dolphin need to live (habitat, diet, protection from predators, pods)? o Has excellent vision in and out of the water o Lives in temperate (warm) or tropical waters like the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea o Some live in coastal waters and others live further offshore in deeper, cooler waters o May travel in pods on a seasonal basis to reach warmer water temperatures o Eats different kinds of fish, squid, and shrimp o Does not chew fish, but swallows them whole; a dolphin may use its flukes to stun larger fish before swallowing them o Dolphins are mammals and breathe air just as humans do, so they must come to the surface of the ocean to breathe o Dolphins sleep about 8 hours a day by shutting down half of their brain and alternating sides so they can come to the surface to breathe as they slowly swim along o A thick layer of blubber just underneath the skin serves as insulation keeping the dolphin warm in the ocean depths o The dolphin's body is designed to allow it to dive for 8-10 minutes before coming up for air o The dolphin's predators are some types of sharks, orcas, and also people's fishing nets o The darker coloring on top imitates the darkness of deeper waters and its lighter underbelly imitates the reflection of light near the water surface, both of which help to conceal the dolphin from its predators o The dolphin uses echolocation to sense its prey and surroundings 3...