Question 1: These dolphins are pictured near Réunion island in which ocean?
- Indian Ocean
- Atlantic Ocean
- Pacific Ocean
Correct Answer: Indian Ocean
Fact: This island is in the Indian Ocean, the smallest of the world’s three major oceans, roughly bounded by India, Africa, Australia, and the Southern Ocean. Located off the east coast of Madagascar and part of the Mascarene archipelago, Réunion is among the world’s biodiversity hotspots, home to many creatures found nowhere else on the planet.
Question 2: How long can dolphins hold their breath?
- An hour or more
- Up to 20 minutes
- 20–40 minutes
Correct Answer: Up to 20 minutes
Fact: As mammals, dolphins don’t have gills and can’t breathe underwater. They must surface to exhale stale air and inhale through blowholes. Some species can hold their breath for 3 to 7 minutes, while others can stay submerged for up to 20 minutes. Because they must surface regularly, half of dolphins’ brains are always active, meaning they never completely fall asleep.
Question 3: What is the largest type of dolphin?
- Risso’s dolphins
- Bottlenose dolphins
- Orcas
Correct Answer: Orcas
Fact: Commonly known as ‘killer whales,’ orcas are the largest type of dolphin. At almost 33 feet long and weighing about 22,000 pounds, orcas are much bigger than common bottlenose dolphins, which range between 6 and 13 feet in length.