Bottlenose dolphins just like other mammals have closed circulatory systems with 4 chambers in their hearts just like humans. Their circulatory system is designed to help them with thermoregulation by having a heat exchange system which conserved and dissipated body heat.
Dolphins would slow down their circulation to their blood vessels in colder water in order to conserve heat by circulating blood from their core and not their dorsal fins thus helping them conserve their heat.
Whereas in warmer water or when they swim for longer periods of time their circulation adjusts to increase circulation near their flippers and decrease circulation in their body core adjusting their body heat.
The arteries contain warm blood from their body core while the veins contain cooled blood from their body periphery. The blood exchange from the arteries to veins is how the circulatory system is able to help with thermal regulation.
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