In this section the Arkonviox Network aims to answer all those little questions that nay have
been plaguing you concerning ol' Ecco's kin.
It is by no means finished, and what you will find here is the "bare-bone" version thereof. But...at least it-s up and running now, so enjoy!
"How fast can a dolphin swim?"
On average a dolphin can maintain a cruising speed of around 3-3.5 m/s (6-7 knots, 11 - 12.5 km/hr) or perhaps 4.6 m/s (9.3 knots, 16.5 km/hr).
When they move faster they will begin to jump in and out of the water in a routine called "porpoising". This saves them a goodly amount of energy, and in this fashion they can reach speeds of 7.3 m/s (14.6 knots, 26.3 km/hr), which they maintained for about 1500 meters, leaping constantly.
There have been reports of dolphins traveling at much higher speeds, but these refer to dolphins being pushed along by the bow wave of a speeding boat. They were getting a free ride (their speed relative to the surrounding water was low). It is possible that dolphins can reach speeds over 15 knots during very short bursts (like in preparation for a high jump), but they can\'t maintain that speed.
"Where can you find dolphins?"
Dolphins can be found in almost every sea and ocean, from the Arctic ocean, through the tropics all the way to the Antarctic. Each species however has its own preferred type of habitat. Some live cold water only, others in tropical oceans only.
"Can Dolphins live in fresh water?"
Yes, the family of river dolphins does indeed live in fresh water. These are the Platanistidae (Ganges and Indus river dolphins), the Iniidae (the boto or Amazon river dolphin) and the Pontoporiidae (the baiji and the franciscana). There is one species that can be found both in fresh water (the Amazon river) and in coastal sea waters: the tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis).
In general, salt water species don't do well in fresh water. They can survive for some time, but they will be come exhausted (since they have less buoyancy in fresh water) and after a while their skin will start to slough (like our own skin after spending a long time in the bathtub).
"Speaking of water how do they drink?"
I know what you are thinking: "you cant drink saltwater" so how DO they get their water? The answer is simple... through their food. Their kidneys are also adapted to retaining as much water as possible. Wow! Living in water, but behaving like a desert animal!
Related: Dope Ass Dolphin Section Part One
