Dolphins are beloved creatures that have captured hearts with their intelligence, playfulness, and loyal nature. This animal is friendly but has a darker side you probably don’t know about. The following thirteen facts will change your view about them forever.
Mega Predators
Though dolphins look friendly, they are big predators. Dolphins have strong and sharp teeth that can tear apart their prey, like fish, octopuses, and crustaceans. They even hunt in groups to catch larger prey like sharks. What’s more? They kill and feed on other dolphins.
They Force Themselves on Female Species
Male dolphins take advantage of the female members of their species. The male dolphins will force female dolphins into submission while they mate or try to mate with them. This behavior is often thought to result from aggression and dominance among males.
In some cases, male dolphins come together to commit group sexual assaults on females, which leads to serious physical injury or even death of the female dolphin.
Dolphins Grope Humans
Yes, it does happen. Dolphins can be attracted to humans, attempt to become close to them, and form intimate relationships with humans. But some dolphins can get too close for comfort and even sexually harass people. These behaviors include inappropriately touching sensitive areas of humans, grabbing them, or rubbing against them.
Male Dolphins Have Prehensile Sexual Organs
Male dolphins have a prehensile sexual organ that can move freely in any direction. This odd feature allows them to interact with their partners differently than other animals. They use the organ to grasp the females they are mating with to ensure the successful passing of their genes. Also, dolphins can use their organ as an extra limb, touching and exploring everything around them.
Dolphins Kill Baby Porpoises
Dolphins have been known to kill baby porpoises because they look similar to their pups. Porpoises are smaller than dolphins, and the resemblance of the baby porpoise to a dolphin’s pup can trigger aggressive behavior in dolphins. As a result, these innocent creatures become victims of aggression, pain, or even death.
Dolphins Kill Their Pups to Mate With Their Mother
Sometimes, male dolphins will kill their offspring to mate with the mother. This act happens due to a phenomenon called ‘infanticide,’ in which males try to increase their chances of mating with the female partner by killing her young one so that she can be more available for them. It is a cruel and disturbing act.
Dolphins Can Go for Days Without Sleep
Dolphins are so active and energetic that they hardly rest or sleep as much as other animals. They can go for days without sleeping, which helps them stay alert and be ready to hunt any prey. They do this by using one side of their brain and letting the other side rest. This way, they can feed themselves, look out for predators, and be aware of their surroundings.
Dolphins Love to Dominate Weaker Creatures
Dolphins love to dominate weaker creatures, including other dolphin species. They do this by chasing them away from their territory and being aggressive by pushing these animals around with their noses or mouths, causing stress to them. They also force smaller dolphins out of groups they form with each other so that they can be the only dominant group within an area.
Dolphins Can Be Cunningly Manipulative
Dolphins are capable of manipulating other dolphins for their gain. They can use mimicry and deception to their advantage, pretending to be injured or acting in a friendly manner to attract other dolphins’ attention. This deception often leads them into dangerous situations where the deceived becomes a victim of predation.
Dolphins Have a Dark Sense of Humor
Yes, dolphins have been observed to have a dark sense of humor. They play tricks and inflict pain on other creatures for their entertainment. For instance, they play games with smaller fish by corralling them into tight balls or chasing them around in circles. Sometimes, they even go as far as to steal fish from fishermen’s nets. This behavior is seen more often in wild dolphins than in captivity ones.
Dolphins Are Reservoirs of Sexual Diseases
Wild dolphins are known to be reservoirs of diseases, particularly sexually transmitted ones. They often get infected with various sexually-transmitted diseases by mating with other sick dolphins. These diseases can lead to severe health conditions or even death.
Dolphins Engage in Recreational Drug Use
Dolphins, like humans, have been known to explore recreational drug use. They use a type of pufferfish that releases a powerful neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin which can cause hallucinations. This toxin causes them to enter into a trance-like state for several hours. Young dolphins in groups engage in this act as a form of socialization and entertainment.
Nasal Sexuality
Dolphins also engage in ‘nasal sexuality,’ a behavior that involves the insertion of the male genitals of a dolphin into the blowholes of another. This practice is seen as a way to satisfy sexual needs and establish dominance or submission between dolphins. It can lead to painful injuries and infections for both partners involved.
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