<< Previous Next >>

Up, up and away


Up, up and away
Photo Information
Copyright: Willem Botha (whjb) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 51 W: 26 N: 172] (683)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-15
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/8, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Nature's cutest [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-09-16 17:05
Viewed: 5248
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 17
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Jumping dolphin.

The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is the most common and well-known dolphin species. It inhabits warm and temperate seas worldwide and may be found in all but the Arctic and the Antarctic Oceans.

Bottlenose Dolphins are grey, varying from dark grey at the top near the dorsal fin to very light grey and almost white at the underside. This makes them harder to see both from above and below when swimming. The elongated upper and lower jaws form what is called the rostrum and give the animals their name of bottlenose. The real nose however is the blowhole on top of the head, and the nasal septum is visible when the blowhole is open. Their face shows a characteristic "smile".

Bottlenose Dolphins typically swim at a speed of 5-11 km per hour (3-6 miles per hour); for short times, they can reach peak speeds of 35 km per hour (21 mph).

Their diet consists mainly of small fish, occasionally also squid, crabs, octopus, and other similar animals. Their peg-like teeth serve to grasp but not to chew food. When a shoal of fish has been found, the animals work as a team to keep the fish close together and maximize the harvest. They also search for fish alone, often bottom dwelling species. Sometimes they will employ "fish whacking" whereby a fish is stunned (and sometimes thrown out of the water) with the fluke to make catching and eating the fish easier.

Courtship behavior of the male includes clinging along to that female, posing for the female, stroking, rubbing, nuzzling, mouthing, jaw clapping, and yelping. Copulation is preceded by lengthy foreplay; then the two animals arrange belly to belly, the penis extends out of its slit and is inserted into the vagina. The act lasts only 10-30 seconds, but is repeated numerous times, with several minutes break in between.

The gestation period is 12 months. The young are born in shallow water, sometimes assisted by a "midwife" (which may be male). A single calf is born, about 1 meter (3 feet) long at birth.

To speed up the nursing process, the mother can eject milk from her mammary glands. There are two slits, one on either side of the genital slit, each housing one nipple. The calf is nursed for 12 to 18 months.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean_Bottlenose_Dolphin
NellyD has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

I like dolphins and this is nice moment you caught. It looks to me that picture is a little dark and there is not enough contrast to it.

Excellent timing!! Would have been nice to see more of the face, but with a shot like that, you cant really choose.
TFS!
Liezel

  • Great 
  • Valf Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 66 W: 0 N: 120] (522)
  • [2006-09-16 22:01]

Good shot. Nice point of view. That dolphin look's like it just pop out of the water like when we open a bottle of champagne! ;-)

Wow. Very nice shot.
The contrast isn't perfect, it isn't as sharp as it could be, but it is still a great shot.

hi willem
This foto is very good!
good work!
TFS David

  • Great 
  • Rolf Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 58 W: 0 N: 27] (196)
  • [2006-09-17 5:34]

Nice shot of this beautiful dolphin Willem!
I like action here!
TFS
Rolf

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2006-09-17 9:43]

Momento oportuno y gran salto de nuestro feliz amigo. saludos Willem

Bonjour,
Bon réflexe. Bravo.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Impressive jump !! Not the sharpest pic but who cares. The action is so incredible.
Good compositon.
TFS

  • Great 
  • Scott Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 225 W: 0 N: 356] (1752)
  • [2006-09-23 21:04]

Willem,

Dit is lekker, difficult capture. A little more note about how and where would be nice.

tfs
scott

  • Great 
  • NellyD Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 237 W: 0 N: 445] (1783)
  • [2006-09-29 13:46]

Hi Willem,

Great moment to capture this jumping dolphin.
It looks great, I like it!
Thanks for sharing.

Greetings, Nel

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF