Fun Black Dolphin Facts For Kids
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Black dolphins (also known as Chilean dolphins) are sea creatures with blunt and beakless heads. The mature black dolphin has a stocky body shape with a length of 5.6 ft (1.7 m) and a weight of 132 lb (60 kg) approximately.
These beautiful creatures have a large round dorsal fin with a gray color coat. However, the ventral sides are lighter in shade with white markings on their lips, throat, forehead, and even behind their flippers.
Coldwater is the main habitat of black dolphins. These can be found in the shallow coastal water of several countries. Their habitats can be found in Argentina, South America, Chile, Cape Horn, South Isla Navarino, and Beagle Channel. The black dolphin species is mostly found in Valdivia and the Gulf of Arauco.
Furthermore, black dolphins are capable of not only swimming fast but can also sense danger easily. Their fast swimming speed can make them tired easily.
They are able to swim for hours at a normal speed and can cover long stretches at a speed of 4-6 mph (6-10 kph). Some of the black dolphins migrate during the year. However, the rest remain in their original place throughout the year.
After this, you may also check out our articles on the common dolphin and the Amazon river dolphin.
Black Dolphin Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a black dolphin?
Black dolphins are also known as Cephalorhynchus Eutropia or Chilean dolphins. They are sea animals with blunt and beakless heads.
What class of animal does a black dolphin belong to?
Similar to other dolphin species, the black dolphins belong to the Delphinidae family of the Mammalia class of the Animalia kingdom.
How many black dolphins are there in the world?
The population of these dolphins is unknown. In fact, one of the least studied topics is the population of black dolphins or Chilean dolphins. However, according to research, their population is said to be as much as a few thousand dolphins.
Where does a black dolphin live?
Black dolphins live in water bodies mostly. However, they don’t have gills. Instead, they have lungs and like other dolphins as they breathe outside water. They live in temperate water off the coast of Chile.
What is a black dolphin's habitat?
Coldwater is the main habitat of black dolphins. They can be found in the shallow coastal water of several countries.
Their habitats can be found in Chile, South America, Argentina, Cape Horn, South Isla Navarino, and Beagle Channel. The black dolphin species roam around in groups of two or 10 individuals. This is why they are said to be gregarious.
However, in the northern ranges, they roam in a larger group from about 20 to 50 dolphins in a group. The black dolphin species is mostly found in Valdivia, near Chiloe and the Gulf of Arauco.
Who do black dolphins live with?
Similar to other species of dolphins, black dolphins or Chilean dolphins usually live in packs. The black dolphin species roam around in groups of two or 10 individuals. This is why they are said to be gregarious. However, in the northern ranges, they roam in a larger group from about 20-50 dolphins in a group.
How long does a black dolphin live?
The lifespan of an average Chilean dolphin is more than 50 years. Male dolphins have a shorter lifespan than females dolphins. Some of the female dolphin species have been said to live for 60 or more years.
How do they reproduce?
The reproduction pattern of the black dolphin is unknown. Even though they’re mammals, their reproduction pattern isn’t known. However, they can mate any time of the year. The process of copulation happens belly to belly between the two dolphins involved.
Dolphins can be sexually attracted to other animals and humans. They may display sexual behavior toward others. Dolphins can reproduce till they reach the age of 48.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of black dolphins is stated as Nearly Threatened.
Black Dolphin Fun Facts
What do black dolphins look like?
Chilean dolphins are beautiful sea creatures with blunt and beakless heads. These beautiful creatures have a large dorsal fin that is round in shape with a gray color coat.
The ventral sides are lighter in shade with white markings on their forehead, throat, lips, and even in the area behind their flippers. They have dark gray bands around their throat along with feral folds that are vertical lines on the baby black dolphins.
How cute are they?
Dolphins are extremely cute creatures. They are so fun-loving and cute that other sea animals and humans love to be their friends. However, they also have some enemies because they travel and live in pods. This is because it is not easy to reach out to them.
How do they communicate?
They communicate with their vocal pitch which is unique. They also respond through a series of sounds and whistles. The difference in vocal pitch and uniqueness is important so that dolphins can differentiate between who is speaking from the pod.
How big is a black dolphin?
Black or Chilean dolphins are large sea animals. The average adult has a stocky body shape with a length of 5.6 ft (1.7 m) approximately.
How fast can a black dolphin swim?
The swimming speed of the black dolphin animal is similar to that of the other species, which is very fast. They are capable of covering short distances at a speed of 20 mph (32 kph). They can even dive into depths.
How much does a black dolphin weigh?
An average adult weighs around 99-132 lb (45-60 kg) approximately.
What are their male and female names of the species?
The name of the male species is 'bull' and females are called 'cow'. The adult group of male black dolphins is called team, school, pod, or alliance. However, a group of females is known as a party.
What would you call a baby black dolphin?
A baby of the species is usually called a calf or pup.
What do they eat?
Black or Chilean dolphins prey on fishes and squids. Moreover, they also like to eat crustaceans, cephalopods, anchovies, sardines, and schooling fish. Sometimes they eat green algae as well.
Are they dangerous?
Black dolphins are not dangerous to humans. They are friendly sea creatures and have proven to be so. Black dolphins have a tendency to help the sick or injured. However, dolphins are wild animals and they can do anything unpredictable. It is strange to know that dolphins can kill other sea creatures for fun.
Would they make a good pet?
No, dolphins wouldn’t make a good pet and are not supposed to be kept as pet animals. Irrespective of how friendly or cute they are, black dolphins are wild sea creatures meant for large water bodies.
Did you know...
Black dolphins are sea creatures with stocky body shapes. Their ventral sides are lighter in shade with white markings on their forehead, throat, lips, and even in the area behind their flippers.
A Commerson's dolphin is black and white in color. It is also known as panda dolphin, piebald dolphin, jacobita, or skunk dolphin.
They usually roam around in groups of two or 10 individuals. This is why they are said to be gregarious. However, in the northern ranges, they wander in a larger group from about 20-50 dolphins in a group.
Most normal sea creatures and even humans have one stomach. However, dolphins (including black dolphins) have two stomachs.
One of the oldest prisons in Russia – Black Dolphin Prison – is named after black dolphins.
What is the similarity between a black dolphin and an Irrawaddy dolphin?
The Irrawaddy dolphin and the Chilean dolphin have a few similarities as they both belong to the same family, order, and class. Chilean dolphins have a large dorsal fin that is round and is shaped similar to the Irrawaddy dolphins but with a gray color coat.
What are black dolphins used for?
Black dolphins are used for several purposes. They are used for entertainment purposes such as water shows to entertain people. In the United States, dolphins have been used for military purposes. They are trained to rescue lost swimmers and to swim into deep-sea mines that are active.
Who are the predators of black dolphins?
Predators of black dolphins are sea creatures that are larger than them. Their predators are species of sharks that are large such as great white sharks, tiger sharks, dusky sharks, and bull sharks. In some cases, even killer whales have eaten black dolphins, although it’s not very common, it has been documented.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these basking shark facts and Irrawaddy dolphin facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable black dolphin coloring pages.
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