Definition: dolphin
A dolphin is a mammal that lives in the water. Dolphins look like large fish but they breathe air.
They have teeth and a snout that looks like a beak. Most kinds of dolphins live in the ocean.
A few kinds live in large rivers in Asia and South America.
Dolphins are closely related to porpoises and other toothed whales.
Fun Facts
1. Super Smart Swimmers: Dolphins are among the smartest animals on the planet. They have big brains, use complex whistles and clicks to talk to each other, and can even recognize themselves in a mirror!
2. Sleeping with One Eye Open: Dolphins never fully fall asleep like humans do because they need to remember to come up for air. Instead, they rest only half of their brain at a time and keep one eye open to watch out for danger!
3. Not Fish, But Mammals: Even though they live underwater, dolphins are mammals just like us. They breathe air through the blowhole on top of their heads, are warm-blooded, and give birth to live babies that drink milk from their mothers.
4. Super Sonar Power: Dolphins use a special superpower called echolocation to "see" with sound. They send out clicking noises that bounce off fish and objects around them, helping them find food even in murky, dark water.
5. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Dolphins are very social animals that live in family groups called pods. They work together as a team to hunt for fish, protect each other from sharks, and take care of injured friends.
6. Built-in Snorkeling Gear: A dolphin's blowhole acts like a natural valve that snaps shut tightly the moment they dive underwater, keeping all the water out of their lungs until they pop back up to the surface.
7. Always Smiling: Dolphins have curved mouths that make them look like they are constantly smiling and happy, even though it's just the natural shape of their jaw!