Dolphin’s Fat Holds the Key to Its Amazing Athletic Abilities

Function

The bottlenose dolphin lives in many oceans around the world. The dolphin can maintain a constant body temperature regardless how cold the ocean’s temperature becomes because 20% of the dolphin’s body is composed of fat. In the case of humans, we generally think that it’s best not to have too much fat, but for dolphins, fat is necessary for them to be able to swim in cold oceans. Dolphins have a large percentage of fat from the time they are born, so they can immediately begin to swim. This is not the only benefit to the dolphin’s fat. The dolphin has fat attached to many places on its body, including its head, ears, and the space between its dorsal fin and tail fin, all of which helps regulate body temperature, improve the dolphin’s athletic ability, and help to enhance its listening ability.

Functional Classification

Resouce/Energy/Information Collection & Storage:
Heat insulation
Defense/Stability:
Temperature control

Environmental Solution Classification

Related Literature

D. J. Struntz et al, Blubber Development in Bottlenose Dophins, Journal of Morphology, 259, 7-20, 2004

Technical Application

Products and Services

Type of Business

Proposals of Applied Technology

Using the functions of the dolphin’s fat as a model to develop new materials, we can create swimwear that allows for comfortable swimming in the ocean even during winter. If we can develop swimwear that amplifies sounds within the water similar to how a dolphin does, we could enhance our magical experiences in the ocean. In the medical field, the functions of the dolphin’s fat could help develop new devices that support people who have injured parts of their bodies, such as the Achilles tendon.

Proposals of Applied Industry

Related Life Style