Imagine if you were in the middle of mating and a bull shark appeared.
Mating must occur quickly in the wild, so this is advantageous to a male dolphin. In fact, some of DRC’s dolphins have been trained to ejaculate on signal. Ejaculation seems to be under voluntary control. They do not require stimulus (foreplay) to become erect, unlike humans. Male dolphins are also designed to have quick erections. This same network of blood vessels surrounds a female dolphin’s uterus, also keeping the fetus below the dolphin’s core body temperature. A network of blood vessels goes from the testicles to the dorsal fin and flukes, drawing heat away from the sperm/testicles, returning with cooled blood which then surrounds the testicles and keeps them below the dolphin’s core body temperature ( Harrison 1948). Dolphins compensate for the extra heat that their testicles must endure by utilizing a special feature of their circulatory system.
On mammals, testicles are usually found outside the body since sperm dies at body temperature. Therefore, male dolphins have their penis and testicles packed inside their body. What are the possible reasons for this type of behavior as it is not just procreational? It is believed that dolphins may engage in this type of behavior to learn about sex as well as to maintain strong social bonds for many sorts of cooperative activities (Nguyen 1999).ĭolphins must maintain a streamlined body to move efficiently through the ocean. They also seem to enjoy buzzing on each others' slits using echolocation (Samuels 1989). Female dolphins have been observed suctioning things (like plates) to their genital region when they feel amorous. They have sex with the opposite gender, the same gender, and engage in masturbation with inanimate objects. The more dominant dolphin is usually found beneath the more passive dolphin, which often stays on the surface and resembles a “floating log”.ĭolphins are indiscriminately amorous. Dolphins have a tendency to get lazy looking eyes and lie on their sides, sinking like a log, when they feel amorous. Much of the amorous activity between dolphins includes chasing each other around and raking each other with their teeth. Females become sexually mature a little sooner at around 5 to 10 years of age (Wells 1999). Males become sexually mature between 8 to 12 years of age. Ninety percent of their mating activity, however, is foreplay. There is no actual mating season for dolphins. These extra slits are generally non-functional and could be a hold over from the dolphin’s terrestrial ancestor. Occasionally females will have extra false sets of mammary slits. These slits flank either side of the genital slit. Females also have a set of slits housing the mammary glands.
Two small pores are present on either side of the genital-anal slit, which have been considered possible vestigial nipples.įemales have one continuous slit which houses both the anal and genital openings, the anus located towards the posterior. The long anterior slit houses the genitals, while the smaller posterior slit houses the anus. Males have two slits that look similar to an exclamation point. The only way to determine a dolphin’s gender in the wild is to see a clear view of their genitals, or to observe an erection, act of intercourse, or a baby swimming close to an adult presumed to be a female. (We would also miss them if they left-they are our family!)ĭolphins have no secondary sex characteristics. We have a diverse enough breeding population. DRC does not partake in this activity, as we presently have no need. Some marine mammal facilities participate in loaning programs to facilitate genetic diversity within their breeding programs. Because not all of the dolphins at DRC are breeding dolphins (due to age & health), we must be very careful about genetic ties. Part of the reasoning behind such an agreement was due to how well common bottlenose dolphins breed in human care.ĭolphin Research Center has been trying to breed dolphins since its foundation. Understanding the reproductive and maternity cycles of dolphins and whales not only broadens our knowledge base, but also provides essential information when dealing with stranded juvenile cetaceans as well as the potential re-population of endangered species.ĭuring the mid 1980s, peers within the marine mammal care industry instituted a voluntary agreement to refrain from taking any more common bottlenose dolphins from the wild. The knowledge gained from this activity has been invaluable for scientists around the world. Humans have been breeding common bottlenose dolphins in human care for decades.