First ever whale-dolphin hybrid discovered in the wild – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

First ever whale-dolphin hybrid discovered in the wild




Image source: Kimberley A Wood/Cascadia Research

Scientists have confirmed that a certain type of whale-dolphin hybrid has been spotted in the wild for the first time near the Islands of Hawaii, Science Alert has reported.

The hybrid which is believed to have been the resulted of mating between a male rough-toothed dolphin and a female melon-headed whale and is the first known example of its kind.

The cetacean, which is male and being referred to a “whoplin” was spotted swimming closely with a school of regular dolphins near the Hawaiian island of Kauai last year and researchers from Cascadia Research Collective then studied it closely to discover the origins of the unique creature, Sky News reports.

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