Dolphins - Blowing Rings

The attached video is of dolphins playing with silver colored rings which they have the ability to make under water to play with. It isn't known how they learn this, or if it's an inbred ability.

As if by magic the dolphin does a quick flip of its head and a silver ring appears in front of its pointed beak. The ring is a solid, donut shaped bubble about 2-ft across, yet it doesn't rise to the surface of the water! It stands upright in the water like a magic doorway to an unseen dimension. The dolphin then pulls a small silver donut from the larger one. Looking at the twisting ring for one last time a bite is taken from it, causing the small ring to collapse into thousands of tiny bubbles which head upward towards the water's surface. After a few moments the dolphin creates another ring to play with. There also seems to be a separate mechanism for producing small rings, which a dolphin can accomplish by a quick flip of its head.

An explanation of how dolphins make these silver rings is that they are "air-core vortex rings". Invisible, spinning vortices in the water are generated from the tip of a dolphin's dorsal fin when it is moving rapidly and turning. When dolphins break the line, the ends are drawn together into a closed ring. The higher velocity fluid around the core of the vortex is at a lower pressure than the fluid circulating farther away. Air is injected into the rings via bubbles released from the dolphin's blowhole. The energy of the water vortex is enough to keep the bubbles from rising for a reasonably few seconds of play time.

Thanks to Catherine Todd for this info:
Music is "No One is Alone" from Into the Woods (Instrumental) by John Williams; The Boston Pops Orchestra. From the Album Music of the Night: Pops on Broadway 1990.

Ps. Unfortunately, I do not know who produced this clip. Wished I knew.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Aquatic
• Dolphin
• Blowing
• Rings

[wijeturo]

Thanks Cath!

[catherinetodd]

Music is "No One is Alone" from Into the Woods (Instrumental) by John Williams; The Boston Pops Orchestra. From the Album Music of the Night: Pops on Broadway 1990.

Download at Amazon mp3.

[wijeturo]

Thanks Catherine for the finding out the title of the song/music! Much appreciated.

[catherinetodd]

You are welcome... could you post the music info in your excellent video notes, along with the CREATOR of the video?

I finally found that, also, titled: "Dolphin play bubble rings," original YouTube video created and posted by chiajungchi.

[wijeturo]

Cath,

I have updated the info box and credit went to you for the additional details. Thanks. As pointed out, I d not know who produced or created this clip. Could be, as you pointed out, be chiajungchi, if not, maybe he/she knows.

[catherinetodd]

wijeturo, we meet again! I had no idea you had also posted the "didn't make it to the Olympics" clip.

I did a google search to find the name of this beautiful song, & looked at a LOT of videos to find the name of chiajungchi, the person who is credited with posting the dolphin video. If you look at their profile page, they describe "taking the video" and their feelings about it. I am amazed that it has become so popular & no credit was given to the correct people. I hope I have it right!

[wijeturo]

Cath,

My pleasure meeting you again. I received an email with the video clip attached. No name was mentioned who produced it. It was a 'beautiful clip' of the dolphin and decided to post in in youtube under my a/c. Yes, it would be good to know who the original 'maker' of this clip is, who rightly deserves all the accolades given so far.

Also, credit goes to you for your 'research' in providing the name of the music/song. Have you checked with chiajungchi if he/she was the 'creator'?

[sukiesoya]

its so sad what people do to these amazing creatures

[catherinetodd]

chiajungchi's profile channel page, con't:

... that we all like dolphin - live in somewhat constrained environment whether it is our choice or not. Suddenly it inspired me that we should learn from this dolphin to enjoy the live no matter where our circumstance is and to use our intelligence to the highest possible level it could be. To respect these dolphins, I decide to call them the employees at Sea World. And this video is especially dedicated to the best employee at Sea World.

[catherinetodd]

What is the music? Love it...