# Wow! Dolphins have names.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-dolphins-have-names/356059>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 9, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-dolphins-have-names/356059 "2006-05-09T13:42:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-dolphins-have-names/356059/21 "2006-05-10T14:53:31Z")

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Yeah, but it’s not so impressive once you realize they’re all named “Bruce”.

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-dolphins-have-names/356059/22 "2006-05-10T16:37:46Z")

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[QUOTE=Lemur Catta]  
I believe I’ve read that this is urban legend.  
[/QUOTE]  
Not as prehensile as a monkey’s tail, no, but enough to pick up objects.

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**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-dolphins-have-names/356059/23 "2006-05-10T17:40:46Z")

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[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher]  
Not as prehensile as a monkey’s tail, no, but enough to pick up objects.  
[/QUOTE]

Ron Jeremy has been known to pick up objects [sub]of his desire[/sub] with his, but that doesn’t mean it’s pehensile. Huge, yes, but not presensile.

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**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-dolphins-have-names/356059/24 "2006-05-10T19:17:28Z")

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[QUOTE=Wile E]  
Weren’t dolphins once land animals?  
[/QUOTE]

Technically, no. While dolphins do have terrestrial ancestors, those ancestors were not known as “dolphins” (they were _cetartiodactyls_). By the time dolphins show up in the cetacean evolutionary tree, the group was already fully aquatic.

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-dolphins-have-names/356059/25 "2006-05-11T16:16:22Z")

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[QUOTE=Doctor Jackson]  
Ron Jeremy has been known to pick up objects [sub]of his desire[/sub] with his, but that doesn’t mean it’s pehensile. Huge, yes, but not presensile.  
[/QUOTE]  
Can he move his around unaided?

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-dolphins-have-names/356059/26 "2006-05-11T16:17:30Z")

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No, “up” doesn’t count. 😛

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