The powerful fluke

The dolphin’s tail fluke (fin) is not perpendicular (up and down) like a fish or a shark.
Instead, the fluke spreads out side to side.
When a dolphin swims, he pushes his tail fluke up and down to help him dive or leap out of the water.
Dolphins may seem friendly, but they are still wild animals.
Never swim up to a wild dolphin!

COMMUNITY

Dolphins like to live in warm, shallow waters along the coast.  You can find them in oceans, but also in guls, lagoons, bays and even harbors!  Sometimes they come into large rivers, and sometimes they go further out to sea.  Dolphins live in family groups called pods. 

There are often about twelve dolphins in a pod, but sometimes several hundred dolphins get together.
They don’t usually migrate, but they may follow schools of fish that are moving.

HUNTING

Adult dolphins eat about 14 pounds of fish, shrimp, and squid each day.
The dolphins’ powerful tail fluke also helps them hunt; they can chase fish at 22 miles per hour.