Rare dolphin with thumbs photographed in Greece’s Corinth Gulf

·

A dolphin with unusual, hook-shaped “thumbs” on its flippers has been discovered in the Gulf of Corinth.

According to livescience, researchers from the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute found the dolphin during boat surveys off the coast of Greece this summer. Despite its unique flippers, the dolphin kept up with its group and engaged in typical dolphin activities like swimming and playing.

This is the first time such flipper features have been observed in 30 years of studying dolphins in the open sea and along the Greek coasts.

The Gulf of Corinth, located between the Greek mainland and the Peloponnese peninsula, is home to a diverse community of dolphins. The unusual dolphin is a striped dolphin, and there are approximately 1,300 of them in the Gulf of Corinth, separated from the rest of the Mediterranean population.

Photo: Alexandros Frantzis/Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute

The strange flipper does not seem to be a sign of illness but may be a result of rare and irregular genes caused by continuous interbreeding in the isolated population.

“Normally, dolphins develop their fingers within the flipper and no cells between the fingers die off,” Lisa Noelle Cooper, an associate professor of mammalian anatomy and neurobiology at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, said.

However, the photographed dolphin seems to be missing some fingers and the accompanying tissue.

“I’ve never seen a flipper of a cetacean that had this shape,” Cooper told Live Science in an email. “Given that the defect is in both the left and right flippers, it is probably the result of an altered genetic program that sculpts the flipper during development as a calf.” 

Source: livescience

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

The man for all jobs: How a Greek migrant turned setbacks into 7-figure success

When Christof Mantzanas stepped off the plane in Melbourne on 10 March 2015, he had just $1,000 in his pocket.

Jimmy’s Kitchen brings authentic Greek hospitality to The Rocks

Sydney diners can now experience the warmth, flavour, and soul of a traditional Greek taverna without the flight to Greece.

Greek Community of Melbourne enhances safety with defibrillator training seminar

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) took a notable step towards enhancing community safety by organising a defibrillator training seminar.

Wills without the Trojan War

After nearly 15 years in the legal industry, I’ve lost track of how many matters I’ve worked on involving family disputes over estates.

From tech to health: Greek Australians driving innovation in 2025

Australia’s Top 100 Innovators celebrate those who turn setbacks into breakthroughs. This year, three Greek Australians are among them.

You May Also Like

Giannis Antetokounmpo powers Greece past Italy in EuroBasket 2025 opener

Greece launched their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 campaign with a 75–66 victory over Italy in Limassol, thanks to commanding Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Suspected smugglers face court over migrant shipwreck off Greece

Nine men charged over the shipwreck off Greece that killed at least 82 migrants, denied any wrongdoing in a Greek court on Tuesday.

New restrictions for religious services in NSW, weddings and funerals limited to 100 people

NSW Health has issued a new set of restrictions for the Greater Sydney region, including a limit on weddings and funerals.