#Atlantic spotted dolphin

[namu-the-orca]

Cetacean colour anomalies existing as a gradient let's goooooo.

No seriously I love it when this is a thing. Still part of the colour anomalies poster(s) series. Currently 102 illustrations down, and quite a few more to go.

Depicted here are Atlantic spotted dolphin, Pacific white-sided dolphin and Striped dolphin, with various colour-altering afflictions.

[inatungulates]

Atlantic spotted dolphin "Stenella" frontalis

Observed by sadrita_bio, CC BY-NC

[artofsoul1999]

Atlantic spotted dolphins are definitely one of most challenging species to draw. They just have so many spots and even with a custom brush, it's still difficult.

[wholphintooth]

fishmarket (me) best frind

[cypherdecypher]

Animal of the Day!

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis)

(Photo by Tanya Burnett)

Conservation Status- Least Concern

Habitat- Atlantic Ocean

Size (Weight/Length)- 109 kg; 2 m

Diet- Small fish; Squid

Cool Facts- Atlantic spotted dolphins live in small groups often mixed with other dolphin species. The pods are often led by a dominant male and a group of females with offspring. When a female dolphin is pregnant, the other Atlantic spotted dolphins are extremely protective of her, chasing off sharks and other dolphins. Baby dolphins often gain their spots after 8 years, giving them the camouflage they need to hunt fish in the open ocean. To hunt for squid, these spotted dolphins dive to 60 meters deep and can hold their breaths for 10 minutes at a time.

Rating- 11/10 (An underwater Dalmatian.)

[thekinhelpcanyon]

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Stimboard for anon!

Sources under the cut!

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/fidget-the-kitty/676005223712636928?source=share

https://htmlstim.tumblr.com/post/190828791972/credit-x

https://solivagant-stimboards.tumblr.com/post/654358408905064448/aqua-blue-luca-stimboard-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/atlantic-spotted-dolphin

https://snakes-stims.tumblr.com/post/649111802792361984/cookies-n-cream-floam

https://nanostims.tumblr.com/post/167092567549/mermaid-glitter-putty

https://talos-stims.tumblr.com/post/672092460231671808/tropical-beach-slime-source

https://calmsmedown.tumblr.com/post/189970773889/shiny-lycanroc-stim-board-art-by-sealnhj-on

[whats-in-a-sentence]

However, even when this activity is accompanied by overt aggression, Bottlenose and Spotted males that interact sexually with one another may later also band together and cooperate with one another.

"Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" - Bruce Bagemihl

[tenth-sentence]

Later, when they begin mating heterosexually, they still retain their primary male pair-bonds, and in some populations male pairs and trios cooperate in herding females or in interacting homosexually with Spotted Dolphins.

"Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" - Bruce Bagemihl

[oh-dear-so-queer]

Spinner Dolphins seem to be more uniformly bisexual without extensive periods of exclusive homosexuality, often alternating between same-sex and opposite-sex interactions in quick succession (this sort of concurrent bisexuality has also been observed in Bottlenose and Atlantic Spotted Dolphins).

"Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" - Bruce Bagemihl

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Atlantic spotted dolphins hunting at night using echolocation to seek their prey, The Bahamas

Photographer: Douglas David Seifert

[spearxwind]

I think it's sad that most people always think of bottlenoses as the "classic dolphin" since its the one that's always used for shows, and always think of dolphins as just straight grey when in reality there's so many varieties with so many different amazing patterns

Look at the common dolphin! They have a gorgeous X pattern and even some dull yellow/gold!!

Hourglass dolphins have gorgeous white streaks

Spinner dolphins have really pretty banding as well, AND they have a really sleek cute silhouette!

The atlantic spotted dolphin!!! Theyre spotted!!!!!!

and the pantropical spotted too!!

Dusky dolphins have a gorgeous airbrush look going on like straight out of a 2000s fantasy illustration

Striped dolphins sure have stripes!! How cool!!

And these I've shown you aren't even all of them at all, there are so many of them:

There's so so so many different types of dolphins people dont know about this isnt even all of them and some are SO gorgeous and underrated because people just dont know they exist so I'm here to fix that

[namu-the-orca]

Has there been a case of a hybrid between a bottlenose and an Atlantic spotted dolphin?

Perhaps! No one knows for sure. There has been no definitive proof from DNA samples of wild animals, nor has it ever been confirmed in captive animals. However, there is much reason to believe it is plausible, and one possible hybrid has been observed.

Let me take you to The Bahamas. Specifically, Great Bahama Bank and Little Bahama Bank. They're sprawling sandbanks surrounding the islands, and many Atlantic spotted dolphins as well as coastal Common bottlenose dolphins make their home there. The spotted dolphins have been studied for more than 30 years by Denise Herzing and her associates. While by far the most encounters are with single-species groups, there have been dozens of mixed species encounters as well.

Many of these are aggressively sexual in nature, with males of both species sparring and trying to enter each other. Male bottlenose dolphins often seem to dominate the smaller spotted dolphins during these encounters, though the spotted dolphins have been seen retaliating, and it is speculated they don't actually experience the harassment as very negative. Since much of the action is male-on-male or involves juvenile animals not yet sexually mature, it seems in many cases the nature of these encounters is more social than sexual. However, multiple cases of interspecific male-on-female copulation have been observed.

With so much going on, the potential for hybridism is great. And since the two species are morphologically quite similar (especially when young), a hybrid could easily fly under the radar.

In February of 2003, Herzing and her team observed a female spotted dolphin with an unusual looking calf. The calf had a shorter rostrum than is normal for spotted dolphins in the area, but it was longer and more elegant than that of a Bahamian bottlenose. Herzing assumed it could be a hybrid calf. However, since no DNA testing was done and the calf was only observed for two days, this can't be confirmed. In 1989 and 1996 there have also been observations of female spotted dolphins mothering over bottlenose dolphin calves. In one case the calf was emaciated, and the spotted dolphin swimming with it wasn't lactating, so most likely the calf died. In another case it was only a temporary association and the bottlenose calf returned to their real mother after a while.

So a lot of interesting things going on. The studies are still ongoing. To my knowledge no large scale DNA testing has been done, nor any new "suspect" animals observed. Perhaps in the future a hybrid will be confirmed! Or perhaps it turns out this is one of those mixes that just doesn't work.

I highly recommend you read the study the photo comes from: "Interspecies interactions between Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis and bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, on Great Bahama Bank, Bahamas". And many of the other studies done by Denise Herzing's team can be read for free here: https://www.wilddolphinproject.org/media/scientific-publications/

[inatungulates]

Atlantic spotted dolphin "Stenella" frontalis

Observed by whale_nerd, CC BY-NC

[yandere-writer-momo]

Now little mermaid reader swim too far of again this time she's lost in atlantic Ocean

Poor little blue tang mermaid has swam so far, she’s ended up in the Atlantic now. It’s been such a chore trying to find her home…

But she knew she was getting closer once the water became warmer.

She was lucky to be able to hide in time before a great white shark merman spotted her. He was a massive merman covered in scars from fisherman, pirates, and boats. And his presence was terrifying. But he didn’t seem to mind her, if anything Jack seemed curious on how a cute little mermaid like her ended up near his domain. He doesn’t speak much but she notices how territorial he is so she stays far away from his space.

Jack chases off Lemon Shark merman Kaoru and his goons a lot of the time. Kaoru is covered in even more scars than Jack is but he’s a little easier to speak to. Kaoru pops up in her reef here and there with various shells and gifts he found. He’s very straight to the point about what he wants. And Jack hates him. Jack chases him off and throws out any gifts Kaoru tries to bring the little mermaid.

It takes a long time to get out of that section of the sea. Kaoru is hard to escape from and he’s fast (same with Jack). But he back off once the little mermaid reaches a certain point in the ocean. That’s when she notices Orca merman Katsumi and his dolphin mermaid buddies (sharks don’t mess with dolphins and orcas).

Katsumi is super friendly. He even offers her to ride on his back since they’re heading towards that side of the ocean anyways. He talks a lot about anything and everything. But he takes it up a notch with her. Isn’t he so cool? The little mermaid would be so safe with him since they travel in groups.

But when the mermaid notices they’re heading in the wrong direction, she has to make plans to escape. Especially when Katsumi drones on and on about offspring.

With the help of beluga merman Doppo, his adopted father whose concerned on if she can even carry Katsumi’s offspring, she’s able to get away. And she ends up back in her reef.

Lionfish merman Baki cries when he sees her. She’s been gone for so long and he’s been so worried! How could she leave him and puffer fish mermaid Kozue?

Once she explains her situation, her friends forgive her. Especially because a certain Bullshark merman (Jun) has been harassing them about her whereabouts.

A shame all the suitors across the seven seas don’t want the little blue tang mermaid to be mateless. She’s going to be getting a lot of company over the next few months until she accepts one…

Choices choices

[tropic-havens]

Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) near Bailey Town, The Bahamas

[afeelgoodblog]

#075 - The Best News of Last Week - February 27, 2023

🐈 - Do you know Gacek, the most famous cat in Poland?

Hey there! It's Erica here, and I'm excited to share with you some of the most uplifting news stories of the week. In a world that can sometimes seem filled with negativity, it's important to focus on the positive and find inspiration in the good things that are happening around us. Let's dive into this week's collection of wholesome news!

1. 8-year-old boy missing from Washington state for 8 months is found in Missouri

A boy who has been missing from Washington state since at least mid-June was found safe in Missouri, the FBI office in Seattle said Tuesday.

Authorities said 8-year-old Breadson John had vanished by June 17, when a welfare check at his home in Vancouver, Washington, just across the state line from Oregon, determined his absence.

2. World’s biggest four-day working week trial hailed a ‘major breakthrough’

The trial of a four-day working week in the UK, the largest of its kind in the world, has been celebrated as a “major breakthrough” after the majority of participating companies announced their intention to continue with the shorter week.

The trial, which ran for six months from June last year, required firms to reduce their working hours for all employees by 20 per cent without any reduction in wages.

At least 56 out of the 61 companies confirmed they will continue with the four-day working week, while 18 of them have made the policy a permanent change.

3. This dying baby turtle survived after drifting 4,000 miles to Ireland

A family strolling on a beach in Ireland earlier this month spotted a seafarer that had washed up on the rocks. Less than a year old, the female loggerhead survived a months-long journey across the Atlantic Ocean, teeming with dangers including predators and plastic. Although she was still alive, the turtle was dehydrated, massively underweight.

They called her Cróga, the Irish word for “brave.” After finding Cróga in the northwestern part of Ireland, the family called a few groups that rehabilitate whales and dolphins. There, Cróga’s rehabilitation began.

4. A Hernando toddler found alive after being missing for nearly 24 hours

A 2-year-old boy was lost in the Florida woods for 24 hours. Everyone feared the worst. Hundreds of volunteers came out to look for him.

One volunteer came to a fork in a field: right or left? He trusted his gut, went left and soon heard a whimper. It was the little boy, crying but in good health.

I found something interesting while reading this article: If you are part of a SAR team looking for a child to not only call their name but also that they aren’t in trouble. Young children sometimes hide from potential rescuers because they’re afraid they’ll get in trouble.

5. German man remains free of the HIV virus years after receiving stem cell treatment.

Researchers are announcing that a 53-year-old man in Germany has been cured of HIV.

Referred to as "the Dusseldorf patient" to protect his privacy, researchers said he is the fifth confirmed case of an HIV cure. Although the details of his successful treatment were first announced at a conference in 2019, researchers could not confirm he had been officially cured at that time. Today, researchers announced the Dusseldorf patient still has no detectable virus in his body, even after stopping his HIV medication four years ago.

6. South Korea court recognises same-sex couple rights for first time

A South Korean court has for the first time recognised the rights of a same-sex couple in the country. In a landmark ruling, the Seoul High Court found a government health insurer did owe coverage to the spouse of a customer after the firm withdrew it when it found out the pair were gay.

The men had held a wedding ceremony in 2019, but same-sex marriage is not recognised in South Korea.

Activists say the ruling is a leap forward for LGBT rights in the country.

7. A fat cat has become the top-rated tourist attraction in a Polish city with a perfect 5-star average on Google Maps

A fat black-and-white cat called Gacek has become the top-rated tourist attraction in the Polish city of Szczecin.

Gacek has a perfect five-star rating on Google Maps. His name, pronounced gats-ek, means "long-eared bat" in Polish. Gacek first drew international attention when he appeared in a YouTube documentary in 2020

- - -

That's it for this week. If you liked this post you can support this newsletter with a small kofi donation:

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Let's carry the positivity into next week and keep spreading the good news!