Photo: Breaching Dolphins L Oceanografic Valencia Spain

Two Bottlenose Dolphins at the L'Oceanografic in Valencia, Spain perform their breaching techniques for visitors to see how graceful these animals are.

Breaching is a regular practiced behavior in the wild by dolphins, so for the Bottlenose Dolphins who reside at the L'Oceanografic in Valencia, Spain, this is a trick which does not require much practice. As the dolphins have peaked in the air, they casually drop back into the water, which both the audience and the dolphins find exhilarating.

Breaching for any type of dolphin, including a Killer Whale, is when the animal lifts its body out of the water and crashes down on the surface on its side or back. Nobody knows for sure why these animals breach, but the sight of it is amazing, especially when seen in the wild. Whales are also very good at breaching, except when the larger whales do so, the splash when landing is incredible. If the water is calm, the sound of the mammals crashing on the surface can be heard across the water for quite a distance.

Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, ... continue below the picture...

This picture is part of the photo album "Dolphin Pictures" - there are more beautiful images waiting for you.

... at the L'Oceanographic in the La Ciutat de les Arts i les Cienies Complex, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, The City of the Arts and Science, in the City of Valencia, Valencia, Spain, Europe.