why do dolphins jump out of water?

Answer 1

Dolphins are mammals and therefore have to breathe fresh air, just the same as whales and that is the reason why they have a blow hole on the top of their head. They would have to come up to the surface to do that and obviously a dolphin which is very agile and playful would just love to jump in and out of the water, right? :)

Answer 2

Dolphins are among the fastest animals in the sea. Several species of trained dolphins have been recorded swimming up to 40 km/h (25 mph), and killer whales in the wild can reach swimming speeds of up to 50 km/h (30 mph). These are maximum speeds that can only be sustained for short periods of time, however, and average or sustained swimming speeds are considerably slower and vary in different species. Many dolphins frequently jump clear of the water, and some species, such as spinner dolphins, often execute intricate flips and barrel rolls in the air.

Some dolphins can dive to depths of 60 m (200 ft) or more. During a dive, the animal’s heart rate slows from 60 beats per minute to 30 beats per minute. Oxygen-carrying blood is shunted away from the extremities and channeled toward the life-sustaining heart, lungs, and brain. These adaptations enable the animal to conserve oxygen while underwater.

GO TO http://www.wikipedia.org FOR MORE INFO

Answer 3

According to Wikipedia, it stated as below:

Dolphins often leap above the water surface, sometimes performing acrobatic figures (e.g. the spinner dolphin). Scientists are not quite certain about the purpose of this behavior, but it may be to locate schools of fish by looking at above-water signs, like feeding birds. They could also be communicating to other dolphins to join a hunt, attempting to dislodge parasites, or simply doing it for fun. Play is a very important part of dolphins' lives, and they can often be observed playing with seaweed or play-fighting with other dolphins. They even harass other locals, like seabirds and turtles. Dolphins also seem to enjoy riding waves and frequently 'surf' coastal swells and the bow waves of boats.

Answer 4

There are four probable reasons that dolphins jump:
either to play,
for communication with other dolphins,
to get rid of parasites,
or to get a better view over the water. :)

Answer 5

It's like they are "diving" in the air, sort of the opposite of what we do.

Peace.

Answer 6

to show off i guess