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Ocean Secrets

How Dolphins Talk to Each Other

Dolphins can't use words like we do — but they are some of the biggest chatterboxes in the sea! 🌊

They talk using three amazing tricks:

Tap Next to dive in and try each one yourself!

🔊 Clicks: seeing with sound

A dolphin makes fast clicking sounds. The clicks zoom through the water, bounce off a fish, and echo back. The dolphin's brain uses the echo to know where the fish is — even in dark water! This is called echolocation.

Try it: Tap the dolphin to send a click and watch it bounce off the fish. 🐟

💡 Fun fact: A dolphin can make up to 1,000 clicks a second — way too fast for us to count!

🎶 Whistles: everyone has a "name"

Each dolphin invents its very own signature whistle when it is a baby. It's like a name made of sound! Friends and family learn it, and they whistle it to call that dolphin — even from far away.

Match the game: Tap a dolphin, then tap the whistle shape that belongs to it. Each one has a different up-and-down pattern.

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Splash
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Bubbles
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Echo

👆 Pick a dolphin first

Whistle ①
Whistle ②
Whistle ③

Matched: 0 / 3

🤸 Body talk: no sound needed

Dolphins also "talk" by moving their bodies. A big jump or a tail slap can send a message across the water. Tap each move to reveal what it might mean!

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Big Leap
"I'm excited! Look at me!" — and it helps them see far.
tap to reveal
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Tail Slap
"Hey, pay attention!" or "Careful — I'm annoyed."
tap to reveal
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Blow Bubbles
Playing and having fun with friends! 🎉
tap to reveal
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Gentle Rub
"We're friends." Dolphins rub fins to say hello.
tap to reveal

🎮 Be the dolphin: find the fish!

The water is dark and the fish is hiding. Use echolocation: tap the sea to send a click. It won't show the fish — but it will tell you if you are Warm (close) or Cold (far). Find the fish in as few clicks as you can!

Clicks: 0 Tap the sea 👆

👥 Working as a team

Because dolphins share so many messages, they can do amazing things together:

🌍 Scientists in places like Singapore's waters listen with underwater microphones to learn what dolphins are "saying". The more we understand, the better we can protect them!
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Lesson complete

You're a Dolphin Language Expert!

Let's remember how dolphins talk:

Next time you see a dolphin, you'll know it's not just swimming — it's chatting! 🌊💙

Great listening. Tap Start again if you'd like another swim through the lesson.