In a startling discovery off the coast of the Gulf of Corinth in Greece, researchers from the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute stumbled upon a dolphin with flippers resembling human thumbs.

This unprecedented finding, marking the first instance of such flipper morphology in 30 years of surveys in the open sea, has left scientists both intrigued and puzzled.

The institute’s president, Alexandros Frantzis, expressed amazement at the peculiar observation. The dolphin, part of the 1,300 striped dolphins inhabiting the gulf, exhibited a seemingly healthy and active lifestyle, swimming and playing with its unique flippers.

Despite its unusual appendages, the creature did not display signs of illness. Frantzis suggested that the anomaly might be attributed to rare and irregular genes resulting from inbreeding within the isolated dolphin population.

The 1,300 striped dolphins in the Gulf of Corinth are reportedly cut off from their Mediterranean counterparts, limiting their breeding options. This isolation has likely contributed to the emergence of genetic variations, such as the human-like thumbs observed in the recently discovered dolphin. The implications of such unique genetic traits in marine life raise questions about the long-term health and adaptability of isolated populations, shedding light on the delicate balance of biodiversity in our oceans.

#MaltaDaily