Dolphins live in groups known as pods which vary in size from 4 to 40 individuals. Spy hopping' occurs when the head is above the water. These such displays are used to draw attention to the individual to give information about its position, activity, age, sex and reproductive condition. The primary mode of communication is sound.
Dolphins emit a series of pulsed and unpulsed calls.
A pulsed call can be determined by a squawk, groan, rattle, click, or buzz. Whereas an unpulsed call can be referred to as a whistle or a squeak. More specifically the bottle nosed dolphin uses 'clicks' for navigation and hunting, 'squawks' for play chases or for aggression, 'yelps' during courtship and mating and 'cracks and pops' when alarmed. We have a variety of different dolphin species in British oceans. Their body is grey to brown in colour with dark or light grey sides and a paler belly.