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How Scars and Other Body Features Help Identify Dolphins

Conservation Wildlife Updated August 19, 2019 Posted August 18, 2019

Wild Dolphin Updates

Sampson, a wild bottlenose dolphin with a peduncle scar

Using Physical Features for Dolphin Photo Identification

Dolphins are air-breathing mammals, this means that about 99.9% of the time, when they surface to breathe, their dorsal fin is visible. For our photo-identification efforts, this makes capturing a photo of a fin relatively easy. Let’s consider, however, how one would identify bottlenose dolphins if a dorsal fin was not visible.

Tail Flukes

Flukes are made up of dense tissue similar to that of a dorsal fin. Further, like the dorsal fin, the tail flukes help a dolphin thermoregulate. Being similar extremeties, flukes, like the dorsal fin, also acquire nicks and notches. Hypothetically, this means that tail flukes could be used for photo identification. However, unlike the dorsal fin, tail flukes are more rarely seen above the water and often it can be difficult to differentiate dolphins in a group using the flukes.

Mako, wild dolphin tail flukes
Tail flukes with markings belonging to Mako, a dolphin in our study.

Scarring

Like all animals, dolphins are subject to injuries both natural and man-made. In some instances, scars persist as a result of certain interactions between a dolphin and something in its environment. For some animals, scar patterns may be the only way to confirm an animal has been re-sighted. For example, there are some animals in the population with very similar dorsal fins. In cases such as this, subtle features, such as a peduncle scar, allow us to tell one animal from its ‘’twin.”

Mako, wild dolphin
Scars visible on wild dolphin, Mako.

Shark Bites and Other Scars

Many scars are a result of predatory shark interactions like that of the large scar seen below on Pirate’s right lateral side.

pirate, wild dolphin with shark bite
Pirate, a dolphin in our study, with a large shark bite scar on its side.

Most animals in the population have at least one shark bite scar, however, with individuals known to beg (i.e. go to boaters and fishers for food), we suspect some scars have been acquired from human interaction.

Hei Hei, wild dolphin with scar
Hei Hei, a dolphin in our study, with scars on its side suspected to be due to human interaction.

It is important to never approach or feed a dolphin in the wild. This can potentially be dangerous and will encourage behavior that can harm the animal in future encounters. It is also illegal to harass or get near wild dolphins without a permit under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Remember to responsibly view dolphins in the wild and only book excursions with Dolphin SMART partners.

Learn more about our local wild dolphin population on a Dolphin Adventure Tour.


Contributed by Savannah Gandee & Chelsea Carter, CMA Education Team. Research conducted and photographs collected under the NMFS Scientific Research Permit No. 19749.

Previous Post: Five Pilot Whales Rescued Off Gulf Coast Beach
Next Post: Over 200 Marine Debris Hazards Removed During 2019 Ghost Trap Rodeo

We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation.
We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
727-441-1790

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