Five fun facts about Flipper and his friends

Next time you are strolling on one of our gorgeous beaches or getting your steps up on a headland, cast your eyes seaward and you might be rewarded with the sight of a pod of dolphins.

One of the more common species in Australia is the bottlenose dolphin which can often be spotted closer to shore, in waters less than 20 metres deep.

These intelligent and social animals can live in groups of up to 15 or more; playing and working with each other to catch fish and raise their young.

But what are some of the lesser known details of these small-toothed cetaceans with their permanent ‘smiles’.

We asked Marine Biologist Dr Michelle Blewitt, to share some facts about dolphins with us. 

1. Dolphins don't actually sleep. They rest one half of their brain at a time as they have to think to breathe! 

2. Dolphins have hair. When dolphins are born, calves have a few hair follicles on their rostrums (snout) to help them find their mothers’ teats to have a drink.

3. They have no sense of smell. This is because the blowhole (a dolphin's ‘nose’), which is located on the top of their head, is closed underwater. They do however, have a very sensitive tongue to compensate.

4. Baby dolphins are born tail first! That way they don’t drown before they are fully born! Once born, they then swim quickly to the surface with the help of their mum or other helper known as a ‘nurse maid’.

5. Dolphins’ eyes are actually flat not curved like ours; similar to us wearing a swimming mask! So they can see just as well out of water as they can in.

Seen any dolphins on our shores lately? Share them with us at https://www.instagram.com/beachescouncil/