Dolphins. Snapshot Picture Library

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      DOLPHINS

      Dolphins are some of the world’s

       smartest animals. Most live in

       the ocean, but a few live in rivers.

       Dolphins are very sociable and

       playful. Even adults have been

       seen playing with things they find,

       such as seaweed and sticks.

      Most dolphins live in groups of

       ten or more called pods. Dolphin

       babies are called calves. They

       live with their mothers until they

       are about six years old. Then

       they form new pods with other

       dolphins their own age.

      Sometimes

       groups of

       dolphins join

       together to

       form a super-

       pod, with up to

       1,000 dolphins.

      Although dolphins live in water,

       they breathe air and have to come

       to the surface to breathe.

      Dolphins breathe through a

       blowhole on top of their head.

       The blowhole closes underwater.

When dolphins are swimming fast, they raise their head out of the water to breathe.

      Sometimes

       dolphins look

       like they are

       leaping out

       of the water

       just for fun.