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Bottlenose dolphins are one of the most widely-studied animals in the ocean. Most researchers believe dolphins have advanced intellectual abilities, making them easy to train. We’ve all seen images and videos of dolphins performing elaborate tricks for astonished audiences. Plus, they are smart enough to play football like a pro, as shown in this amazing video by fishing.with.guy. So, how intelligent are dolphins, and do they have to be trained to play like this?
Common Bottlenose Dolphins
The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) can be found in temperate and tropical coastal and off-shore waters all over the world. Bottlenose dolphins are marine mammals that belong to the order Cetacea, which also includes porpoises and whales. Cetaceans spend their lives in the water, but as mammals, they have lungs. So, they must surface occasionally to breathe.
Bottlenose dolphins are different shades of grey and can be recognized by their short, rounded snouts, called rostrums. Adult bottlenose dolphins weigh between 300-1400 pounds and range from 6-13 feet in length. They are social animals, living in groups of just a few to over 100 dolphins. Because of their large brains and complex social skills, scientists have praised dolphins’ high intelligence. However, the idea that dolphins are exceptional is in dispute.
Dolphin Intelligence
Some studies have concluded that the larger the brain, the more intelligent the animal. Dolphins have large brains when compared to the brain of a similarly sized animal. This is called the encephalization quotient (EQ). Humans have an EQ of 7 because our brains are considered to be seven times larger than expected in an animal of our size. Dolphins’ EQ is 4-5, which is the largest of any animal. However, other studies have suggested that it is not necessarily the size of the brain, but the complexity of the structure. Some experts in the field have also noted that the roots of intelligence have not yet even been determined in humans, let alone dolphins.
Whether or not we believe dolphins’ cognitive abilities are unique in the animal kingdom, they have some intriguing behaviors. Dolphins have been spotted working together to herd prey into shallow water and care for injured group members. While there is no evidence of a dolphin language, they use sound to communicate. They even have different whistles to refer to themselves and others by name. Scientists also note bottlenose dolphins’ social intelligence. They have complicated, dynamic relationships in fission-fusion societies, so they change how they associate with certain individuals throughout the day. Experiments suggest dolphins may also have self-awareness, which is linked to emotional intelligence.
Are Dolphins Trained in Play Behavior?
There is evidence that bottlenose dolphins exhibit play-type behavior in the wild. They have been observed play fighting and chasing, riding waves, and playing with objects like seaweed, jellyfish, turtles, and fish. Dolphins are naturally skilled in object manipulation, as shown in the video above. They have cone-shaped teeth designed for grasping, not tearing, so they must swallow their food whole. However, the shape of these teeth also allows them to catch and hold objects in their mouths without puncturing them.
The video above was actually filmed in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico, an area known for dolphin encounters with captive-born populations. So, the dolphin in the video may have been trained to throw the ball, as play with man-made objects such as balls and rings has frequently been documented. However, some researchers have observed captive dolphins playing “catch” as the result of social learning and trial and error, not training.
In the process of object manipulation, dolphins release objects from the sides of their mouths. The dolphin shown above turns its head sideways and sharply jerks it back, releasing the ball. Although there is no documentation regarding their throwing distance, dolphins are stronger than the best human athletes. They can swim as fast as 20mph, producing 300-400 pounds of thrust and generating 5,400 watts of power when accelerating. Dolphins can also jump over 20 feet. So, while we don’t know how much force is behind the throw, this aquatic quarterback has more than enough power to get the ball to the receiver, and that’s what counts.
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