You might not realize how diverse dolphins actually are. Have you ever considered, for instance, that killer whales are a type of dolphin? Yes, you read that right. The term ‘killer whale’ originates from a translation error. Including killer whales, there are approximately 40 different dolphin species across the globe. Here’s a fascinating fact: the closest living relative to a dolphin is actually a hippopotamus. It sounds unbelievable, but it’s true. Dolphins and hippos separated from each other around 40 million years ago. Thus, killer whales are more genetically similar to hippos than they are to their bigger whale relatives. Furthermore, they have a closer relation to us than they do to any other marine creature. Intriguingly, due to their human-like thinking and behavior, some scientists are arguing that dolphins should be considered as non-human persons. Regarding intelligence, hardly any animals can compete with dolphins. Even your pet dog would struggle in a battle of wits. Let’s journey into the fascinating world of marine mammals. Brace yourselves for 25 mind-boggling facts about dolphins and their astonishing capabilities.
Featured Image: wikipedia
Like all mammals, dolphins have hair, at least when they are babies (whiskers). The hairs fall out after a while though.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Dolphins are actually camouflaged (technically called countershading). Their backs are dark and their underbellies are light. This way they blend into the darkness of the ocean below as well as the light above.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Dolphins are opportunistic feeders. This basically means that they will eat anything.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Killer Whales are actually dolphins. Their name was a mistranslation from Spanish. It should be "Whale Killer".
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Since 2005, 36 armed, terrorist-killing dolphins trained by the US Navy have been missing
Source: theguardian.com, Image: wikipedia Some scientists have proposed giving dolphins "rights" like humans considering their similar brain structures and social order. They have even been labeled "non human persons".
Source: wikipedia, Image: pixabay In 2008, a dolphin named Moko led two sperm whales through a narrow channel after several failed attempts by rescue teams
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Researchers have found that dolphins give each other names (via whistles)
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia In Laguna, Brazil, dolphins have been helping local fisherman herd fish into their nets since at least 1847
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Since dolphins aren't automatic breathers, only half of their brain sleeps at a time
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Maui dolphins are the world's smallest dolphin species. There are only about 55 left on Earth
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia The Soviet Navy once trained dolphins to attach mines onto ships. They were sometimes parachuted out of airplanes
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia The dolphin who played Flipper in 1964 committed suicide by not breathing (dolphins aren't involuntary breathers)
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia In 2013, scientists found a dolphin that had been adopted by a family of sperm whales
Source: nationalgeographic.com, Image: wikipedia Since dolphins are mammals, they have lungs and breathe like humans. This also means they can drown like humans.
Source: wikipedia, Image: pixabay Male dolphins will sometimes separate female dolphins from their families and starve them until they agree to mate
Source: nytimes, Image: pixabay Sexually frustrated dolphins have been known to go on killing sprees
Source: grist.org Whales have been known to give dolphins piggy back rides
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia In 2006, Bao Xishun, the world's tallest man, was called by trainers to remove plastic from a dolphin's stomach when they had failed with every other method. His 1.06 meter long arms saved the dolphin's life.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia There is an organization called Anti Dolphin that believes dolphins are a threat to humanity and should be exterminated
Source: anti-dolphin.org Dolphins can apparently identify humans underwater thanks to their sonar. They can use it to recognize our skeletal structure
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Dolphins have been known to save humans from ship wrecks by keeping them afloat and even fighting off sharks
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia There is a species of dolphin that is born blind in the Ganges River of Asia. It has an extremely advanced system of sonar (Indus River Dolphin)
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia In Lake Calcasieu, Louisiana, there is a pink albino dolphin
Source: telegraph.co.uk, Image: wikipedia Dolphins can heal rapidly from injuries like shark bites
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 
