Melon
Gel-like fats in the forehead shape outgoing clicks into a focused beam that the dolphin can steer like a flashlight.
Lesson series
Sensory Anatomy
Trace the path of a dolphin click from forehead to brain and discover how specialized tissues turn sound into a crystal-clear mental map of the ocean.
Inside a dolphin's sensory toolkit
Dolphins rely on anatomy that works together like a built-in lab. Fatty tissues focus outgoing clicks, hollow jawbones funnel returning echoes, and neural superhighways decode results in milliseconds. Use this lesson to help learners visualize each part and how it supports teamwork and survival.
Below, you’ll find a guided anatomy spread, reflection prompts, and quick-fact talking points ready for your next lesson or student-led investigation.
Built-in sonar tools
Sensory anatomy in focus
Each part of a dolphin's head is tuned to send, receive, and process sonar with incredible precision.
Jaw pathway
Hollow lower jawbones filled with lipids guide returning echoes straight to the middle ear with minimal loss.
Brain centers
Auditory cortex regions translate timing differences into a rich map of texture, speed, and even the inside of objects.
Quick facts for discussion
- The melon can change shape on command, letting dolphins zoom or widen their sonar beam.
- Lipids in the jaw match the speed of sound in seawater, keeping echoes crisp.
- Dolphin brains devote more space to hearing than the human brain does to sight.
Pair these facts with a simple sketching activity: have students trace each structure while summarizing its job.