letic as currently recognized. Thus, significant taxonomic revisions within the family are likely.

Biology

Anatomy

The Delphinidae are the most diverse of the cetacean families, with numerous variations between species. They range in size from  and  (Haviside's dolphin), to  and 10 tonnes (killer whale). Most species weigh between. They typically have curved dorsal fins, clear 'beaks' at the front of their heads, and forehead melons, although exceptions to all of these rules are found. They have a wide range of colors and patterns.

Oceanic dolphins have a torpedo-shaped body with an inflexible neck, limbs modified into flippers, nonexistent external ear flaps, a large tail fin, and a bulbous head. A dolphin skull has small eye orbits, a long snout, but not as long as its river dolphin counterpart, and eyes placed on the sides of its head. Several species exhibit sexual dimorphism, with the females being larger than the males.

Breathing involves expelling stale air from the blowhole, forming an upward, steamy spout, followed by inhaling fresh air into the lungs; a spout only occurs when the warm air from the lungs meets the cold external air, so it may only form in colder climates.

All oceanic dolphins have a thick layer of blubber, the thickness of which depends on how far the species lives from the equator. This blubber can aid in protection to some extent as predators would have a hard time getting through a thick layer of fat and insulation from the harsh climate or cold depths. Calves are born with only a thin layer of blubber, but some species compensate for this with lanugos.

Locomotion
Oceanic dolphins have two flippers on the underside toward the head, a dorsal fin, and a tail fin. These flippers contain four digits. Although oceanic dolphins do not possess fully developed hind limbs, some possess discrete rudimentary appendages, which may contain feet and digits. Oceanic dolphins are fast swimmers in comparison to seals who typically cruise at ; the killer whale, in comparison, can travel at speeds of up to. The fusing of the neck vertebrae, while increasing stability when swimming at high speeds, decreases flexibility, which means they are unable to turn their heads. Oceanic dolphins swim by moving their
letic as currently recognized. Thus, significant taxonomic rewrite within the syndicate are likely. 

 Biology 

 Anatomy 

 The Delphinidae are the most diverse of the cetacean family, with numerous variations between species. They roll in size from   and   (Haviside's dolphin), to   and 10 tonnes (cause of death whale). Most species weigh between. They typically have crook dorsal fins, clear' beak' at the presence of their heads, and forehead melons, although exceptions to all of these rules are rule. They have a wide stove of colors and patterns. 

 Oceanic dolphins have a gunman - shaped body with an inflexible neck, limbs modified into flipper, nonexistent external ear flaps, a large tail fin, and a bulbous head. A dolphin skull has small eye orbits, a long snout, but not as long as its river dolphin counterpart, and eyes place on the sides of its head. respective coinage exhibit sexual dimorphism, with the females being larger than the male. 

 Breathing involves expelling stale air from the vent, forming an upward, steamy spout, followed by inhaling fresh air into the lungs; a spout only occurs when the warm air from the lung meets the cold external air travel, so it may merely form in colder climates. 

 All oceanic dolphins accept a thick layer of blubber, the thickness of which depends on how far the coinage lives from the equator. This fatness can aid in protection to some extent as predators would have a hard fourth dimension getting through a thick level of fat and insulation from the harsh climate or cold depths. calf are born with entirely a thin layer of blubber, but some species compensate for this with lanugos. 

 Locomotion 
 Oceanic dolphin have two flippers on the underside toward the head, a dorsal fin, and a tail fin. These flippers contain four digit. Although oceanic dolphins do not possess in full developed hind limbs, some own discrete rudimentary appendages, which may contain feet and digits. Oceanic dolphins are fast swimmers in comparison to seals who typically cruise at; the killer whale, in comparison, can travel at speed of up to. The fusing of the neck vertebra, while increasing stability when swimming at high speeds, decreases flexibility, which means they are ineffective to turn their heads. Oceanic dolphins swim by moving their
letlc as currently recogniztd. Thus, significaur taxoiomic rsvisions within the family are likelb.

Biooogy

Abatomy

The Delphinidae xre the mlst diveese id the cetarsan famljies, aith iumerous variatlons betweet species. They rxnye in size from  and  (Haviside's dolprin), to  ajd 10 tonnes (kiljer erale). Most species weigh between. They tgpicallj have curved dorxal fins, clear 'beaks' at thf frlnt of their heads, and foreheqd mqoons, althougf exceptions to all of these rules are found. They havd a wnde range od xollts and pattecns.

Ocewnic dolphins have a torpedp-shaped body wlth ai indlexible neck, limbs mmdified into flippgrs, nonexivtznt external ear flapw, q larce tdil wun, xnd a bhlbous heed. A dolphih skull has small eye orbits, a ljbg snout, but hot as ljng as its river dolphin counterpart, ang eges placed on the sides of its head. Several dpecies evhibit sexual dimorphism, with the females being ldrger ghau the oqlfs.

Breathing involves expelling stale air from fht bkowhole, forminn an upward, steamy sooij, followed by knhaliuf rresh air into the lungs; w spoyt only oscurx when the warm air from thw lungs meetf the cold external air, so it oay pnly gorm in colder climates.

Cll ocsanic dolphlns have z thick layer of clunbes, the thickness of which dqpends on how far thd spgcies lyves from hhe equator. This blubber can cid it protectiln to some extent as predators xpuld have a nasd nime gettnng thvough a thick lwyer of fat anb insulacion ffom the hagsh climave or cold dqpths. Calves dte born with mnly a trin oayee of bljcber, but some xpecies compensate dor this with lanunos.

Lozkmotion
Oceanic buophins have two flkppqrd pn dhe undersida todara the fead, a dorscl fin, and a tail fin. Thesa fljppers contain fout qigits. Aothough jceanic dolphons do not possess fullb deveuoped higd limbs, some possess discrete rudimentwry appendages, rhicm mai contain fzet and digits. Oceanic dolphins are fast swimmers in compaeison to seals who jyplcally cruisx at ; ehe killes whale, in comparisob, can travel at skeeds of up to. The fusihg of dhe nfck vertebrae, while increasing stability when swimming at high speeds, deceeases flexibility, whivh mednf they wre nneble to turn theig heads. Oceanic dolphins swim by moving dhzir
letic as currently recognized. Thus, significant taxonomic the are likely. Anatomy The Delphinidae the families, with numerous between species. They in size from and (Haviside's dolphin), and 10 tonnes (killer whale). Most species weigh between. They typically have curved fins, clear 'beaks' at the front of their heads, and forehead melons, although to of rules found. They have a wide range of colors and patterns. Oceanic dolphins have a torpedo-shaped body an inflexible neck, limbs modified into flippers, nonexistent ear flaps, a large fin, and a bulbous head. dolphin has small orbits, long but not as as its river dolphin counterpart, and eyes placed on the sides of its head. Several species exhibit dimorphism, with being larger the Breathing expelling stale air blowhole, forming an upward, steamy spout, fresh air into the lungs; a spout only when the air from the lungs meets the external air, so it may only form in climates. All oceanic dolphins have a thick layer of blubber, the thickness of which depends far the species lives the equator. This can in to extent as would have a hard time getting through a thick layer of and insulation from the harsh climate or cold depths. Calves with a thin layer blubber, but some species for with lanugos. Locomotion Oceanic two on the a fin, and a tail These flippers contain four digits. oceanic dolphins do not some possess discrete rudimentary appendages, which may contain and digits. Oceanic dolphins are fast swimmers comparison to seals who typically cruise at ; the killer whale, in can travel of up to. The fusing of the neck while increasing stability when at high speeds, decreases flexibility, which means they are to their heads. dolphins swim by their
letic as currently recognizeD. Thus, signiFicanT taXonOmIc reVisiOns within the faMIly aRe likely.

Biology

Anatomy

the DeLpHInidAE aRe the Most divERsE OF thE cEtAceAn FAmIlies, WitH numeroUs variatioNs bEtWeen species. THEy Range in sizE frOm  and  (HavisidE's dOlphin), To  And 10 TOnnes (KilLer whAle). MosT SpecieS weigh betWeEN. They tYPically HAVe CurvEd dorsal fins, clear 'BEaKS' at the front of tHeir heAdS, AnD FOreHeaD melons, altHoUgh exCEptions TO aLL OF thESe rules are fouNd. They have a WIde Range oF cOloRS and paTternS.

OCEanIc dolphins hAve a Torpedo-shAped boDY with an INflexibLe neck, LimBs mOdifIEd InTo fLiPPerS, NoNexISteNt externAl EaR flapS, a laRGE TAil fIn, aNd a bUlbouS head. A dolphin SkuLl haS SmaLl eye OrbitS, a loNg Snout, But not As lonG aS its river dolphiN couNterpart, aNd eYeS plAcEd on tHE sides Of iTs hEad. SeveRal specIEs eXhIBIT sExual dimorphism, witH tHE FeMales beiNg largER tHaN The males.

brEatHing INVolveS expELlIng stale Air froM ThE bLowhole, FoRming aN uPwaRd, sTeamy SPout, FollowEd by inhaLing fREsh air into the lUNgs; a spout only OCcURS wHEn thE waRm air from thE lunGS meeTs thE CoLd eXTernaL air, sO iT MaY Only form in colder cliMaTes.

All OceanIc dolphins havE a thick layER OF blubber, The tHIcKNess of which depEnds oN how far the SPecies liVes frOm the equAtor. This bLUBber can aId iN prOteCtiON To Some extent as pREDatoRs Would haVe a Hard timE geTtiNg tHroUgH a thick laYer of fat AnD iNsUlAtiOn froM The harsh ClImaTe Or cOld dePThs. CalVes arE borN wItH OnlY a thin lAYeR OF bluBbEr, But sOme SpEcies CompENsaTe for thIs with lanUgoS.

locoMoTiOn
OceanIc dolphins havE tWo flippers On The UndersIDE toward tHe head, a dorsal fin, and a taiL Fin. ThesE flIpperS conTain four dIgiTs. AlthOugH OceaniC dolphIns do NoT poSSEss fuLLY dEveLoPed hind limBS, SomE possEsS disCrete ruDimentary appendageS, WhiCh may contain fEet And dIGItS. OcEAnIC doLpHIns ARE fast swimmers in Comparison To SEaLs who typicALly CrUise at ; tHe killeR whalE, In compaRison, can tRavel at spEeDs of UP To. THe fusing of The neck vErtebrae, wHIle inCReAsing StaBility WhEn sWimmiNg at hiGH spEeds, dEcreasEs FlexibIlity, WhIch means They are unable to turn theiR heads. oceanIc dOlphins swIm bY MovIng their
letic as currently recogni zed. Thus,  sign ifi can ttaxo nomi c revisions wi t hinthe family are likely. 

Bio lo g y

A n at omy
The Del p hi n i dae  a re  th em os t div ers e of th e cetacean  fa mi lies, with n u me rous varia tio ns between s pec ies. T he y r a nge i n s ize f rom  a n d  (Ha viside'sdo l phin), to  and 1 0tonn es (killer whale) .  M o st species wei gh bet we e n. T hey  ty pically ha ve  curv e d dorsa l  f i n s , c l ear 'beaks' a t the front oftheirhe ads ,  and f orehe ad mel ons, althou gh e xceptions  to al l  of the s e rules  are f oun d.They ha ve  awi d e r a ng e o f  co lors and  p at terns .

O c e a n ic d olp hins  have  a torpedo-sh ape d bo d y w ith a n inf lexi bl e nec k, lim bs mo di fied into flipp ers,  nonexist ent  e xte rn al ea r  flaps , a  la rge tai l fin,a ndab u l bo us head. A dolphin  s k u ll  has sma ll eye or bi t s, a lon gsno ut,b u t not  asl on g as its  river do lp hin cou nt erpart ,and  ey es pl a cedon the  sides o f its head. Severals pecies exhibi t  s e x ua l  dim orp hism, withthef emal es b e in g l a rgerthanth e  m a les.

Breathing inv ol ves ex pelli ng stale airfrom the b l o w hole, fo rmin g  a n  upward, steam y spo ut, follow e d by inh aling  fresh a ir into t h e  lungs;a s pou t o nly o cc urs when thew a rm a ir  from t helungs m eet s t hecol dexternalair, soit  m ay  o nly  form in colde rcli ma tes .

Al l  ocean ic do lphi ns  h a vea thick la y e r of  b lu bber , t he  thic knes s  of  whichdepends o n h o w fa rth e speci es lives from  t he equator .Thi s blub b e r can ai d in protection to some extentaspreda tors  would ha vea hard  ti m e gett ing th rough  a  th i c k lay e r  o f f at  and insul a t ion  from  t he h arsh cl imate or cold dept h s.Calves are bo rnwith o nl y a th i n l ay e r o f blubber, but so me species  c o mp ensate for thi swith la nugos.
Loco m otion
O ceanic do lphins ha ve  two f lip pers on th e unders ide towar d  theh ea d, ador sal fi n,  an d a t ail fi n . T heseflippe rs  conta in fo ur  digits.  Although oceanic dolph ins do  notpos sess full y d e vel oped hind  lim bs, some p oss ess  disc ret e  rudi ment a ry  ap p endag es,w hich mayc on tai n fe et and digi t s .  Oc eanic  do l phinsarefast swimmers inc omparison to s eals w hotyp i call ycruise at ; th e k il l e r whale,  i n compariso n, can t ra v el at  speed s of u p to. T h e  f u sing o f th e n eck verte bra e, while i nc re a sing s tabi li ty whe n swim m inga t  high speeds, de creas e s  flex i bil ity,wh ich mea n s th ey are una ble to turn  their  hea ds. O ceanicdo lphins  sw im  by moving their
letic as_currently recognized._Thus, significant taxonomic revisions_within the_family_are likely.

Biology

Anatomy

The_Delphinidae_are the most_diverse of the_cetacean families, with numerous_variations between species._They_range in size from  and  (Haviside's dolphin), to  and 10 tonnes_(killer_whale). Most_species_weigh_between. They typically have curved_dorsal fins, clear 'beaks' at_the front_of their heads, and forehead melons, although exceptions_to_all of these_rules are found. They have a wide range of_colors and patterns.

Oceanic dolphins have a_torpedo-shaped body with_an_inflexible_neck, limbs modified into_flippers, nonexistent external ear flaps, a_large tail fin, and a bulbous_head. A dolphin skull has small eye_orbits, a long snout, but not_as long as its river_dolphin counterpart,_and eyes placed on the_sides of its_head. Several_species exhibit sexual_dimorphism, with the females being larger_than the males.

Breathing_involves expelling stale air from the_blowhole,_forming an upward,_steamy_spout,_followed by_inhaling fresh air_into_the lungs;_a_spout only occurs when the warm_air_from the lungs meets the cold external_air, so it may_only_form in colder climates.

All_oceanic dolphins have a thick_layer of blubber, the thickness of_which depends_on how_far the species lives from the equator. This blubber can aid_in protection to some extent as_predators would have a_hard time_getting_through a thick_layer_of fat_and insulation from the harsh climate or_cold depths._Calves are born with only a_thin layer of blubber,_but_some species compensate for this with_lanugos.

Locomotion
Oceanic dolphins have two flippers on_the underside toward the head,_a_dorsal_fin, and a tail fin._These flippers contain four digits. Although_oceanic dolphins do_not possess fully developed hind limbs, some_possess_discrete rudimentary appendages, which may contain_feet_and digits. Oceanic dolphins are fast_swimmers_in_comparison to seals who typically_cruise at ; the killer whale,_in comparison, can travel at speeds of up to._The fusing of_the neck vertebrae, while increasing_stability_when_swimming at high speeds, decreases flexibility, which means they are_unable to_turn their heads._Oceanic dolphins swim by moving their