Burrunan Dolphin

The name is originally from Greek δελφίς (delphís), "dolphin", which was related to the Greek δελφύς (delphus), "womb". The animal's name can therefore be interpreted as meaning "a 'fish' with a womb". The name was transmitted via the Latin delphinus (the romanization of the later Greek δελφῖνος – delphinos), which in Medieval Latin became dolfinus and in Old French daulphin, which reintroduced the ph into the word "Dolphin". The term mereswine (that is, "sea pig") has also historically been used.

• Singular: dolphin

• Plural: dolphins

The dolphin's common name, Burrunan, is an Aboriginal name in the Boonwurrung, Woiwurrung and Taungurung languages, meaning "sea wombat".

The Burrunan dolphin is dark bluish-gray at the top near to the dorsal fin extending over the head and sides of the body. Along the midline, it is a lighter gray which extends as a blaze over on the side near the dorsal fin. Ventrally, it is off-white, which reaches over the eye and the flipper in some instances. By size, it is smaller than the common bottlenose dolphin, but larger than the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin. 

High intelligence is exhibited by bottlenose dolphins, who can solve problems, recognize themselves, use tools (such as carrying a sponge), and communicate in sophisticated ways. They are able to hold their breath for five to twelve minutes. These dolphins have a 4- to 6-meter leap, which they employ for communication and possibly to get rid of parasites. Bottlenose dolphins are capable of swimming at speeds of 5 to 12 km/h, with bursts of up to 30 to 35 km/h. They use flippers for precision steering and strong up-and-down tail strokes.

The main sonar method used by dolphins to find prey is echolocation. Dolphins also communicate by making noises, such as squeaks from the blowhole, whistles from the nasal sacs beneath the blowhole, and noises from body language, like jumping out of the water and slapping their tails on the water. They have an oily coating on their heads that protects the braincase and serves as an acoustic lens. To ascertain the position and form of objects in the vicinity, including possible prey, they make clicking noises and listen for the return echoes.

Their heads contain an oily substance that both acts as an acoustic lens and protects the brain case. They emit clicking sounds and listen for the return echoes to determine the location and shape of nearby items, including potential prey. A tribe of Austral indigenous people on the Mornington Island have been communicating with wild dolphins for millennia. They are said to have "a medicine man who calls the dolphins and "speaks" to them telepathically. By these communications he assures that the tribes' fortunes and happiness are maintained.

Dolphins don't suffocate outside of water; they breathe air like all mammals, although they can die of dehydration out of water. They are vulnerable to many stressors and threats including disease, biotoxins, pollution, habitat alteration including freshwater incursions, vessel strikes, human feeding of and activities causing harassment, interactions with commercial and recreational fishing, energy exploration and oil spills, and other types of human disturbance, such as underwater noise.

Dolphins have few marine enemies. Some species or specific populations have none, making them apex predators. Because the magnitude of threats may differ among tributaries, extrapolation from these small study areas should be undertaken with caution. The tucuxi exists in small groups of about 10-15 individuals, and swim in tight-knit groups, suggesting a highly developed social structure. Tucuxis are quite active and may jump clear of the water (a behavior known as breaching), somersault, spy-hop or tail-splash.

Burrunan dolphins and other dolphins are thought to be some of the smartest animals on the planet, challenging the great apes (chimps and gorillas) for the top spot. They are also extremely curious and often approach people to investigate. Their intelligence is likely both a result of and a driver of their complex social structures. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins feed on a wide variety of fish and cephalopods (particularly squid).

Reproduction

• Mating system: Promiscuous; complex social courtship.

• Gestation: About 11 months.

• Calves: Born tail-first, about 1 m long. Nurse for 18–34 months.

• Calving interval: Every 3–5 years.

• Strong mother–calf bonds; calves learn hunting and social behaviors from mothers.

As a very social species, the Burrunan dolphin lives in groups called pods that typically number about 15 individuals, but group size varies from pairs of dolphins to over 100 or even occasionally over 1,000 animals for short periods of time. The types of groups include: nursery groups, juvenile groups, and groups of adult males. If the dolphin can not find a path to a dropped item, the dolphin may stay underwater to the point of drowning. Should the survivor or another creature hit a dolphin, the whole pod retaliates, attacking all at once similar to other sociable animals.

The Burrunan dolphin is only found in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Recently there has been genetic confirmation of the Burrunan genetic type found in Western Australia, however little is known about their presence or numbers in Western Australian waters.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Pod

• Population Trend: Unknown

• Population: ???

• Locomotion: Aquatic

• Habitat: Warm Littoral; Cold Littoral; Warm Intertidal; Cold Intertidal; Kelp Forest; Coral Reef; Barrier Reef; Neritic Zone (Warm); Neritic Zone (Cold); Pelagic Zone (Warm); Pelagic Zone (Cold); Benthic Zone.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): Australia

• Berbania: worldwide

• Reinachos: worldwide

• Delphia: worldwide

• Sawintir: worldwide

You cannot tame most dolphin species, except for common dolphin, orca, tucuxi, spotted dolphin, Commerson's dolphin, and bottlenose dolphin. Dolphins can be fed raw cod or pulled along with a lead that are tamed non-violently, rather than through a cordial and curious creature, it will slowly approach any survivor that is within radius. To tame it, you need to pet the creature twice, then feed it with fish or lobster meat.

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• https://www.marinemammal.org.au/burrunan-dolphin

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41714/50381127

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrunan_dolphin

• https://www.azquotes.com/quote/634134?ref=dolphins

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Burrunan-dolphin-871575963

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Burrunan-Dolphin-2023-985176701