• Nature

Why Do Spinner Dolphins Spin?

Have you ever seen a dolphin that jumps like this?

The spinner dolphin is a true athlete of the seas. Found all over the world in huge pods of up to 200, these dolphins have been known to gather in super pods of more than 1000 and mega pods of over 3000!

But why do they spin?

Well, there are a few theories:

Some think that the sound of the slap as the dolphin belly flops back into the water lets the rest of their pod, and even distant dolphins know where they are.

Others speculate that the splash helps a dolphin to accent an emotion, like we do with an exclamation point; communicating happiness to anger or fear.

And some observers feel that they spin above the surface to rid themselves of parasites.

And although no one is 100% sure why they do it, the spinner dolphin is surely one of the most incredible animals on earth!