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The panda dolphin has a special color. Source: marcosilva/iNaturalist
Nature still has something to surprise us, and the panda dolphin is a prime example of this. The photo of this beauty, known to science as the Commerson's dolphin, makes you smile.
These unusual marine mammals have an interesting habit of swimming upside down. They are also known for their acrobatics, IflScience writes.
According to scientists, panda dolphins are divided into two subspecies: Cephalorhynchus commersonii commersonii, which lives in South America, and Cephalorhynchus commersonii kerguelenensis, which enjoys the waters near the Kerguelen Islands in the Indian Ocean.
That is, the two species are about 8,500 kilometers apart, but scientists do not know what caused this population to break up.
The ones living near the Kerguelen Islands are larger – about 1.8 meters long and weighing 86 kilograms. In contrast, their South American cousins are more modest, weighing only 45 kilograms, biologists say.
However, both subspecies have a black-and-white pattern that has inspired numerous nicknames, including panda dolphins, skunk dolphins and spotted dolphins. The main genetic cause of this formation is closely related to leucism, scientists emphasize.
According to scientists, leucistic animals show a decrease in all pigmentation, not just melanin, as is observed in albinism. Only some parts of the body have reduced pigmentation in mottled animals.
But a stylish tuxedo is not all that panda dolphins can surprise you with. It is believed that the black and white pattern can improve their chances during the hunt. After all, it is a form of destructive camouflage that hides the silhouettes of dolphins. And to make it easier to spot their prey, these cunning creatures have adapted to swimming upside down.
Panda dolphins are also known for their acrobatics. Researchers say that they show a typical curiosity for these mammals and willingly approach boats to ride on board.
"They are energetic and active, often swimming in a figure-eight shape under boats, spinning underwater, and jumping out of the water. Comerson's dolphins also like to surf the waves near the shore," scientists from the British wildlife charity Whale And Dolphin Conservation say.
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