Dolphin

dolphin the name properly given to various large marine mammals of the family Delphinidae, the name porpoise being reserved for some of their smaller relations; but porpoise is used instead of dolphin in some parts of the world.

From classical antiquity, and perhaps even earlier times, the dolphin has been regarded as a friend of man, to be respected rather than caught and eaten. General concern for the preservation and well-being of marine mammals (see also dugong and whale) has reinforced this attitude in the 20th century, and dolphins only appear in the Companion because they have been eaten in the past in Europe and may still be in some other parts of the world.