I wonder why they always do it all the times?
2007-10-20 18:15:36 · 9 answers · asked by DONNY H 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
One reason is when they're traveling, it's to conserve energy. It's easier to move through air than water.
Also, to play, remove parasites, communicate with other dolphins, or to get a better view of the water.
2007-10-20 18:27:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dolphins Jumping Out Of Water
2016-12-28 16:40:39 · answer #2 · answered by burley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some fish (and no, dolphins are NOT fish they are mammals) jump out of the water to knock parasites off when they hit the water again. It's possible dolphins do this as well, but with such smooth skin, there's really nowhere for parasites to hide, so this may not be much of a problem with them. Fish have scales and gills where parasites can go into.
Orcas and other cetaceans spyhop (only stick their head out of the water) to see their surroundings above water. Dolphins get a good look of their surroundings like this too, but also when they jump as well.
Jumping is fun. It's exercise.
When dolphins ride along with a boat, they often jump out of the water in the wake of the boat. The wake allows them to go faster as there is less resistance there, and its a game to them.
Jumping can also show other animals how healthy the dolphin is, that its not sickly and is not an easy target.
They do not need to jump all the way out of the water to breathe.
The blowhole is on the top of the head so they only need to expose that.
2007-10-21 01:33:49 · answer #3 · answered by Akatsuki 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dolphins jump out of the water to clean parasites, sort of like whales. When dolphins swim they jump a lot too, this is because air resistance is much lower than water resistance, so if they jump they actually go faster and save a bit of energy doing so, just like penguins.
2007-10-21 06:16:41 · answer #4 · answered by Double You 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jumping and playing
Dolphins often leap above the water surface, sometimes performing acrobatic figures (e.g. the spinner dolphin). Scientists are not always quite certain about the purpose of this behaviour and the reason for it may vary, it could be to locate schools of fish by looking at above-water signs like feeding birds, they could 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.
2007-10-20 18:26:49 · answer #5 · answered by John 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Dolphins are mammals, and therefore have lungs. That means they breathe by inhaling and exhaling air. That's the reason why they need to jump out of the water in order to inhale.
Other fish are not mammals, so they have gills intead of lungs. That means they don't need to inhale or exhale air. Their gills can collect oxygen even when deeply under water, and they don't need to get above the water to breathe.
2007-10-20 19:39:16 · answer #6 · answered by Botsakis G 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1) The impact cleans the dolphin's skin of parasites.
2) It's fun.
2007-10-20 18:20:06 · answer #7 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dolphins jump for a couple of reasons, fun,to see there prey, and to see how many of there pod is around, and to be seen by others to join the hunt,
2007-10-20 20:51:22 · answer #8 · answered by skully 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're playing or possible looking around the area.
2007-10-20 18:25:22 · answer #9 · answered by avkedav 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋