Dramatic Dolphins
By Ricky Kanai
Dramatic Dolphins
What has a beak, is a mammal, and lives in the water? It’s a dolphin! As it bursts out of the crystal clear water at 20 miles per hour, it flips over and dives back in the water leaving ripples in the ocean. These fascinating creatures have sleek movement, an amazing life cycle, and a healthy diet.
Movement
Dolphins have a unique movement that is very different from humans. These fascinating creatures can leap 20 feet in the air and turn somersaults before diving back into the water. They usually swim 3-7 mph when in schools and pods. sometimes they can swim up to 20 mph.these are among the fastest marine animals in the world.
Life cycle
These agile swimmers breed well both in captivity and in the wild. Dolphins begin to breed when they are five to eight years old depending on the species. The gestation period is eight to eleven months. After the calf is born , it will stay with its mother for an year or two. Then it will grow up into an adult. Dolphins only produce one calf. The mother nudges the calf to the surface for its first first breath. Most species live up to 30 years. Since dolphins survive well in captivity scientists were able to prove that dolphins can rest both of their cerebral hemispheres. In addition to this, males are called bulls females are cows and babies are called calves.
Diet
These water dwelling mammals eat lots of prey. All types of dolphins are carnivores and as a result, their favorite food is fish. Not surprisingly these acrobatic mammals will leap from the water to pursue their favorite kind of fish, flying fish. These carnivores may also devour invertebrates such as squids and octopuses. Dolphins have beak like snouts and sharp cone shaped teeth to attack and eat prey easier. Their speed is a great advantage as well. To make hunting easier they hunt with others. The groups are called schools or pods. Schools are 100 to 2000 individuals but pods are 10 to 50 individuals.
Closing
As you can see, dolphins have precise movement an interesting life cycle, and a balanced diet. In my opinion, coryphaena hippurus are the best fish-like mammal of all. I hope you found dolphins interesting as I did.
Chef's Corner Great Australian Pikelets
Food from Australia:
The Great Australian Pikelets
INGREDIENTS Nutrition For 15 pikelets
1 large egg
1⁄4 cup sugar (use vanilla sugar if you have it, or as some reviewers have suggested ...add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of vanilla)
1⁄2 cup milk (1-2 tbsp extra may be required for correct consistency)
1 cup self raising flour
DIRECTIONS
In a pouring jug, whisk together well the egg, sugar and half of the milk.
Add the flour and mix thoroughly.
Then add milk until the batter is the consistency of a thick cream.
Beat until smooth.
Pour about a soup spoon sized amount onto a preheated lightly greased frypan (You will need to start about medium high heat but after a few rounds you will need to drop it back to medium).
Flip with a spatula when the top is all bubbly (should be a lovely golden colour), and cook the other side.
Remove from pan and pile pikelets up on a plate (cover with a paper towel so they don't go rubbery).
Serve with jam, honey or maple syrup etc.
Enjoy.
History of great australian pikelets
Traditionally served with jam or butter every australian would have made one in their childhood. they are served at afternoon tea or morning tea they are closely related to pancakes and crumpets.
Websites: http://www.food.com/recipe/the-great-australian-pikelets-102655?photo=188798