DELFINES - DOLPHINS
Dolphins are aquatic mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. They vary in size from 1.2 m (4 ft) and 40 kg (88 lb) (Maui's Dolphin), up to 9.5 m (30 ft) and ten tonnes (the Orca). They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid. The family Delphinidae is the largest in the Cetacea, and relatively recent: dolphins evolved about ten million years ago, during the Miocene. Dolphins are considered to be amongst the most intelligent of animals and their often friendly appearance and seemingly playful attitude have made them popular in human culture.
ORIGEN DEL NOMBRE - ORIGIN OF THE NAME
The name is from Ancient Greek δελφίς delphis meaning "with a womb" which can be interpreted as meaning "a 'fish' with a womb".
The word is used in a few different ways. It can mean:
Any member of the family Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins),
Any member of the families Delphinidae and Platanistoidea (oceanic and river dolphins),
Any member of the suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales; these include the above families and some others),
Used casually as a synonym for Bottlenose Dolphin, the most common and familiar species of dolphin.
In this article, the second definition is used. Porpoises (suborder Odontoceti, family Phocoenidae) are thus not dolphins in this sense. Orcas and some closely related species belong to the Delphinidae family and therefore qualify as dolphins, even though they are called whales in common language. A group of dolphins can be called a "school" or a "pod".
EVOLUCION - EVOLUTION
Dolphins, along with whales and porpoises, are thought to be descendants of terrestrial mammals, most likely of the Artiodactyl order. Dolphins entered the water roughly fifty million years ago. Dolphins have a streamlined fusiform body, adapted for fast swimming. The basic coloration patterns are shades of gray with a light underside and a distinct dark cape on the back. It is often combined with lines and patches of different hue and contrast.
Modern dolphin skeletons have two small, rod-shaped pelvic bones thought to be vestigial hind legs. In October of 2006, an unusual Bottlenose Dolphin was captured in Japan that had small fins on either side of the genital slit, which scientists believe to be a more pronounced development of these vestigal hind legs.[2]
The head contains the melon, a round organ used for echolocation. In many species, the jaws are elongated, forming a distinct beak; for some species like the Bottlenose, there is a curved mouth that looks like a fixed smile. Teeth can be very numerous (up to two hundred and fifty) in several species.
The dolphin brain is large and has a highly structured cortex, which often is referred to in discussions about their advanced intelligence. A recent theory however disputes the existence of a neural basis for dolphin intellect, suggesting instead that the large brain is only an adaptation to living in cold water.[3] This theory has not found widespread acceptance.
2006-12-11 04:28:09
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answer #1
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answered by APRK 4
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http://www.el-portal.org/foro/index.php/topic,2707.from1126230699/topicseen.html
En cualquier traductor gratis de internet solo pega la direccion y traducelo
Suerte!!!
2006-12-11 13:10:38
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answer #2
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answered by maryne 7
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