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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
| [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''delphyn'', ''dolphyn'', from Anglo-French ''delphin'', alteration of Old French ''dalfin'', from Medieval Latin ''dalfinus'', alteration of Latin ''delphinus'', from [[Greek]] ''delphin''-, ''delphis''; akin to [[Greek]] ''delphys'' [[womb]], [[Sanskrit]] ''garbha'' | | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''delphyn'', ''dolphyn'', from Anglo-French ''delphin'', alteration of Old French ''dalfin'', from Medieval Latin ''dalfinus'', alteration of Latin ''delphinus'', from [[Greek]] ''delphin''-, ''delphis''; akin to [[Greek]] ''delphys'' [[womb]], [[Sanskrit]] ''garbha'' |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century] |
| The name is originally from [[Greek]] δελφίς (''delphís''), "dolphin", which was related to the Greek δελφύς (''delphus''), "[[womb]]". The animal's name can therefore be [[interpreted]] as meaning "a 'fish' with a womb". The name was transmitted via the [[Latin]] ''delphinus'' (the romanization of the later Greek δελφῖνος – ''delphinos''), which in Medieval Latin became ''dolfinus'' and in Old French ''daulphin'', which reintroduced the ph into the [[word]]. The term ''mereswine'' (that is, "sea pig") has also historically been used. | | The name is originally from [[Greek]] δελφίς (''delphís''), "dolphin", which was related to the Greek δελφύς (''delphus''), "[[womb]]". The animal's name can therefore be [[interpreted]] as meaning "a 'fish' with a womb". The name was transmitted via the [[Latin]] ''delphinus'' (the romanization of the later Greek δελφῖνος – ''delphinos''), which in Medieval Latin became ''dolfinus'' and in Old French ''daulphin'', which reintroduced the ph into the [[word]]. The term ''mereswine'' (that is, "sea pig") has also historically been used. |
| <center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Dolphins''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Dolphins '''''this link'''''].</center> | | <center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Dolphins''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Dolphins '''''this link'''''].</center> |
| The word is used in a few different ways. It can mean: | | The word is used in a few different ways. It can mean: |
| | | |
− | *any member of the family [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_dolphin Delphinidae] (oceanic dolphins), | + | *any member of the family [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_dolphin Delphinidae] (oceanic dolphins), |
− | *any member of the family Delphinidae or the superfamily [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_dolphin Platanistoidea] (oceanic and river dolphins), | + | *any member of the family Delphinidae or the superfamily [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_dolphin Platanistoidea] (oceanic and river dolphins), |
− | *any member of the suborder [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odontoceti Odontoceti] (toothed whales; these include the above families and some others), | + | *any member of the suborder [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odontoceti Odontoceti] (toothed whales; these include the above families and some others), |
− | *and is used casually as a synonym for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottlenose_dolphin bottlenose dolphin], the most common and familiar species of dolphin. | + | *and is used casually as a synonym for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottlenose_dolphin bottlenose dolphin], the most common and familiar species of dolphin. |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | '''Dolphins''' are marine [[mammals]] closely related to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale whales] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porpoise porpoises]. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from 1.2 m (4 ft) and 40 kg (90 lb) ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maui%27s_dolphin Maui's dolphin]), up to 9.5 m (30 ft) and 10 tonnes (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons) (the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whale orca] or killer whale). They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_shelves continental shelves], and are carnivores, eating mostly fish and squid. The family [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_dolphin Delphinidae] is the largest in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetacea Cetacean] order, and evolved relatively recently, about ten million years ago, during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miocene Miocene]. Dolphins are among the most [[intelligent]] animals, and their often [[friendly]] appearance and seemingly [[playful]] [[attitude]] have made them popular in human culture.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphin] | + | '''Dolphins''' are marine [[mammals]] closely related to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale whales] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porpoise porpoises]. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from 1.2 m (4 ft) and 40 kg (90 lb) ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maui%27s_dolphin Maui's dolphin]), up to 9.5 m (30 ft) and 10 tonnes (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons) (the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whale orca] or killer whale). They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_shelves continental shelves], and are carnivores, eating mostly fish and squid. The family [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_dolphin Delphinidae] is the largest in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetacea Cetacean] order, and evolved relatively recently, about ten million years ago, during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miocene Miocene]. Dolphins are among the most [[intelligent]] animals, and their often [[friendly]] appearance and seemingly [[playful]] [[attitude]] have made them popular in human culture.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphin] |
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| [[Category: Biology]] | | [[Category: Biology]] |