Chinese white dolphin: description and lifestyle
In coastal waters, no more than 3 km from the coast, in shallow water, there is a surprisingly beautiful animal - a Chinese white dolphin belonging to the cetacean order.
Description
The length of the slender and strong body of this dolphin can be from 180 to 230 cm. The weight of an adult animal can reach 260 kg. In South African waters, the largest individuals are found.
The main food for these marine animals iseels, catfish, mollusks and crustaceans, living on the bottom. With the help of strong, with lateral outgrowths on wide roots, the dolphin easily shreds the shells of the soft-bodied.
They swim rather slowly - average speedan average of 4.8 kilometers per hour. Literally every 40-60 seconds the dolphin has to float to the surface to breathe in air. The maximum time that some adults are able to stay under water is 8 minutes, babies can not hold their breath for a long time and are forced to reappear after 3 minutes.
Habitat
The Chinese white dolphin is found mainly inthe coastal waters of southern China, the Bay of Bengal, the Indian-Malay Archipelago, and the eastern coast of Northern Australia. Small populations are found in closed seas, for example, in the Persian Gulf. Comfortable depth for dolphins of this species does not exceed 100 meters, so their distribution is limited to the coastal waters of the continental shelf. Also seen are these animals, preferring open beaches, in the mouths of rivers, lagoons of rocky reefs. The Chinese white dolphin usually lives in water, the temperature of which is 24-30 ° C.
Lifestyle
As a rule, these animals live in smallgroups - from 3 to 7 individuals. If necessary, they can stand up for the protection of their relatives. It is often possible to observe the interaction of dolphins with each other and with other species of animals. This happens with the help of various sounds in the form of clicks, whistles and screams.
Dolphins are capable of jumping very highwater. Sometimes they protrude halfway, inspecting the surrounding space. In the water they behave quite freely - floating on their sides or on their backs, a dolphin with a white belly does it with obvious pleasure.
Sometimes one can observe how these animalsaccompany the fishing boat, trying to catch the fish escaping from fishing nets. They are very much at risk in such moments themselves get entangled in the network, a similar situation threatens them with death, since dolphins need to float to the surface in order to breathe.
Reproduction and care of the offspring
Achievement of sexual maturity occurs atfemales at 10 years, males two years later. The mating season continues all year round, but the period of active mating occurs at the end of summer. Pregnancy lasts quite a long time - about 10-12 months. Once in 3 years, the female gives birth to only one calf and does not wean it from the breast until almost two years of age, despite the fact that from the age of six months the baby is able to eat the same food as a large white dolphin. Eating up to 30 times a day with fatty mother's milk, the dolphinata grow very quickly, adding up to 250 grams per day. During the first year of life, the calf does not separate from the mother for more than 2-3 meters, constantly circling around it.
The period of childbearing in females takes about 15 years - from 5 to 20 years. The lifespan of white dolphins in natural conditions is approximately 40 years. In captivity, they practically do not survive.
Dolphins and Man
Like many other cetaceans, Chinese whiteThe dolphin is in great danger from human activities related to fishing. Fishing nets pose a serious threat to these animals. In addition, the pollution of the water, which results in the depletion of fish stocks, also violates their habitat. The construction of port facilities, the movement of boats along coastal waters - all this leads to a decrease in the number of these amazing animals.
