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Canadian behavioural ecologist Alexander Wilson and his German associate Jens Krause were observing sperm whales off the Azores and witnessed startling behavior never before seen in whales, inter-species mingling with a dolphin. The deformed dolphin, believed to have a condition similar to scoliosis, has apparently been welcomed into the pod of whales. Sperm whales are not noted for cavorting around with anything other than their own species. The baffled scientist are trying to understand what has motivated this rare relationship.
A group of sperm whales have apparently adopted a bottlenose dolphin with a spine deformity, swimming alongside him and at times nuzzling and rubbing up against him, at least temporarily.
“Sperm whales have never been observed to interact with another species in a non-agonistic way; basically, that means in a friendly way,” said Wilson when reached by phone at his office in Berlin.
“Dolphins, on the other hand, are the exact opposite. They are extremely gregarious. They’re very, very social.”
Wilson also pointed out that the dolphin’s malformed spine, similar to scoliosis, suggests he was bullied or harassed by other dolphins and sought social refuge in the group of whales.
Dolphins are, of course, noted for their intelligence and highly social nature. What is also notable about dolphins is that they can also be quite
aggressive.
Dolphins engage in acts of aggression towards each other. The older a male dolphin is, the more likely his body is to be covered with bite scars. Male dolphins engage in such acts of aggression apparently for the same reasons as humans: disputes between companions and competition for females. Acts of aggression can become so intense that targeted dolphins sometimes go into exile as a result of losing a fight.
In an attempt to understand how this unlikely relationship between the two species developed, several theories have been identified and dismissed. The only theory that has held up to scrutiny comes down to the idea that they are simply friends. According to Wilson "Really, it seems that, somehow, either one or both parties derive some social benefit, whether it be social play, or just some way to relax and interact with another cetacean."
For lay people like myself, it is all too easy to ascribe human emotions to animal behavior. However, in this case it may be apt. If Wilson's theory is correct, what this boils down to is a relationship between two different species that is only mutually beneficial from the pleasure they derive from one another's company. And that warms my heart.
Now on to Tops!
TOP COMMENTS
February 1, 2013
Thanks to tonight's Top Comments contributors! Let us hear from YOU
when you find that proficient comment.
From indie17:
In SlackerInc's diary Obama and Dems may have just lost their most stalwart supporter with this Obamacare ruling, HoundDog gave us this excellent comment.
From 2thanks:
In Horace Boothroyd III's diary Breaking: Cardinal Roger Mahony removed from duties, SeaTurtle gave us this comment. Writes 2thanks: IMHO, SeaTurtle models courtesy in his response to a discourteous comment with insight, irony, detailed instruction on substance and courtesy, and concludes with a request for an apology. Still waiting.
By the power invested in me as a Kossack, I hereby declare SeaTurtle's response to be a stunningly courteous Top Courtesy Comment, and invite other Kossacks to award Top Courtesy Comments at will.
From Joy of Fishes:
In louisev's diary Obese Airline Passenger Dies of Kidney Failure Trying to Get Home to Doctor: Lawsuit Filed, commonmass and the diarist, louisev, had a graceful and respectful exchange about a passage in the original diary that louisev subsequently modified to address commonmass's concern. Both lousev and commonmass deserve a round of applause.
And from your diarist, Steveningen:
JekyllnHyde gives us this great overview on "How Black History Month Came to Be" in dopper0189's Black Kos, Week in Review. It was pointed out that the comment really should be its own diary and I couldn't agree more.
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TOP PHOTOS
January 31, 2013
Enjoy jotter's wonderful PictureQuilt™ below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment that features that photo. Have fun, Kossacks!
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