The bay is considered a breeding and feeding
ground for a significant population of short-beaked
common dolphins. Also found in the area are bott-
lenose and striped dolphins but are seen less fre-
quently. Striped dolphins occasionally mix with com-
mon dolphins, but bottlenose and common dolphins
do not usually interact and tend to avoid each other.
Even so, the story of this unique bottlenose and
common dolphin hybrid began with a lone female
bottlenose dolphin commonly known as Billie.
Billie was well known amongst local marine bio-
logists, having been observed for over 10 years in-
teracting with groups of common dolphins. Before
2016, she was also spotted assisting common dol-
phin births and leading newborns to the surface on
three occasions.
On the 11 August 2016, Billie was seen raising
and pushing a newborn calf to the surface. No other
dolphins were present at the time, and after compa-
ring previous photographs taken of Billie, they con-
cluded that the calf belonged to her and that it was
possibly a hybrid.
After this unique find, Rocio began collecting
standardised data such as the date, time and loca-
tion of each sighting.
This data was collected over 10 months, with the
pair seen almost daily. Out of 355 sightings, they
were observed 104 times within nursery groups of
common dolphins.
They examined the young dolphins’ features and
found that its length and robust body showed si-
milarities to that of a bottlenose, while its lateral
striping, colouration and criss-cross patterns were
characteristics of common dolphins.
They also studied the pair to determine more
about their relationship by monitoring their inte-
ractions. They observed Billie exhibiting continuous
parental and nurturing behaviours and nearly always
having near-body contact with the calf. They also ob-
served the pair rubbing against each other and cha-
sing each other, which are typical signs of mother
and calf behaviour.
Collecting DNA samples from the calf was also
considered but were not taken as the process was
deemed too risky with a possibility of endangering
the calf’s health.
After compiling all of their findings, they conclu-
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ded that this had to be a one of a kind bottlenose/
short-beaked common dolphin hybrid, never before
seen in the wild.
Sadly, the hybrid has not been seen since June
2017, leading the team to believe that it may no lon-
ger be alive.
But considering how rare marine mammal hybrids
are in the wild, there have been a few other disco-
veries over the last couple of years in other parts of
the world.
In 2017, just off the coast of the island of Kauai,
another unique hybrid was spotted: a cross between
a melon-headed whale and a rough-toothed dolphin.
This male hybrid had a dorsal cape matching that
of the melon-headed whale and the blotchy colour
pattern of a rough-toothed dolphin. DNA samples
confirmed that his mother was a melon-headed
whale meaning the hybrids father was a rough-too-
thed dolphin.
It was amusingly, but mistakenly, given the moni-
ker of ‘Wholphin’. However, as melon-headed wha-
les are in-fact a member of the dolphin family, this
fun name is unfortunately quite misleading.
Last year, scientists also discovered that a unique
hybridisation between a narwhal and a beluga took
place over 30 years ago.
In the late 80s, an Inuit subsistence hunter killed
three of these possible hybrids but had no idea what
they were. They had flippers that were similar to a
beluga, but the tails were like that of a narwhal.
They were neither white nor mottled but completely
grey.
He kept one skull which was later examined by a
scientist in Copenhagen in 1990 who hypothesised
that this was a narwal/beluga hybrid. But thanks to
DNA analysis performed by the University of Den-
mark, it was confirmed to be true just last year and
has been nicknamed a Narluga!
With this wonderfully unique find of a dolphin
hybrid right here in the bay, it further highlights the
magnificent ecological diversity that the Straits have
to offer. Due to how busy the Straits are, shipping
and fishing pose the greatest threats to dolphins
and other marine mammals in the area. Researchers
and conservationists have called for better environ-
mental education and further protection for marine
mammals residing in its waters.
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