There are many dolphin facts that are fascinating. Dolphins are extremely intelligent and curious creatures. Dolphin habitats and ways of life are becoming threatened more each day by humans. Hopefully some of these dolphin facts will help people understand why it is so important to protect these amazing creatures of the oceans.

First, dolphins are not fish. This is one of the most common dolphin facts many people don't know. Dolphins are mammals, just like humans. This means that dolphins give birth to live babies and that they produce milk to nurse their young. Dolphins are warm-blooded and have hair on their bodies when they are young. Dolphins are born with mustaches that eventually fade away. Dolphins also have lungs like humans. They must breathe air to survive. All of these dolphin facts classify dolphins as mammals, not fish.

The average size of dolphins is about six to eight feet long. Male dolphins are larger than females, but not by much. The largest dolphin is actually known as a whale. Killer whales are about 20 feet long, and they are actually a type of dolphin. The smallest dolphin is the buffeo dolphin, which is about four feet long.

The top swimming speed of a dolphin is a little faster than twenty miles per hour. The average dolphin swimming speeds are about five miles per hour.

Dolphins are found all around the world. The bottlenose dolphin is the most commonly recognized species and also has the widest range. Not all dolphin species are found in oceans. Some dolphins are found in rivers.

One of the saddest dolphin facts is that mankind is responsible for almost all fatal dolphin accidents. The most common ways that humans harm or kill dolphins is with fishing nets, especially tuna fishing nets and shark nets. Many people fish with dynamite. This illegal activity kills many dolphins each year. Accidents involving boats and because of sonar on ships also kills dolphins. Many dolphins die as a result of being captured for entertainment purposes such as theme parks and aquariums and for research. Pollution contributes to many dolphin deaths as well.