SOUND
Dolphins communicate in highly sophisticated ways giving them an intimate knowledge of their world. Some sounds are bounced back in an echo and read as images. This is called echolocation and is a lot like modern ultrasound.

Other sounds like whistles, squeaks and claps are used in a social context. While no one has learned to speak ‘dolphinese’ researchers agree that this system places dolphins amongst the smartest beings to have ever lived.

Because dolphins can see into the bodies of others they are able to focus on bones and organs. Dolphins may be able to detect pregnancy and serious illness in each other and even in people. It is often thought that dolphins remember other living things from their internal organs.

SECOND SIGHT
Most dolphins see well above and below the water and have a range of up to 50 metres. Bottlenose dolphins can use both eyes together but usually focus best by only using one. Other river dolphins around the world like the Baiji or Chinese river dolphins have small and weak eyes. This is because they are confined to rivers that are turbid and brown.  

Dolphins have very expressive eyes and it is often thought that like cats, they can use them to make connections and communicate emotions. Gaining eye contact with a dolphin in the wild can be a euphoric experience not easily forgotten.