All dolphins swallow their food whole or in large chunks. Although they sometimes feed by themselves, dolphins most often hunt in groups. Dolphins that live in the open ocean may swim in tight circles around a school of fish and take turns dashing in to catch a bite to eat. Closer to shore, a group of dolphins often herds fish into shallow water, keeping them trapped while group members feed. Social dolphins stick together.
Dolphins live and travel in groups called pods, often family groups.
In some species, individual dolphins enter and leave the pod over time. But others, like killer whales, have a stable group. Sometimes, several pods may join together to form a temporary herd. Several hundred individuals have been seen traveling in a single herd. These social mammals commuicate by squeaking, grunting, trilling, and moaning.