Posted on 03/27/2008 6:21:41 PM PDT by blam
Dolphin and whale mate to create a 'wolphin'
By Stephen Adams
Last Updated: 6:55am GMT 27/03/2008
If life on Earth was not strange enough, nature occasionally throws a very unusual creation into the genetic mix.
Most hybrids tend tend to be sterile, but Kekaimalu the 'wolphin' has given birth to two calfs
Although it is extremely rare, animals occasionally succeed in producing offspring with mates from closely related species.
Scientists believe some actively try to mate outside their own species to increase the diversity of their wild populations.
But most hybrids are born in captivity - which may suggest sexual frustration and proximity are stronger factors.
Kekaimalu the 'wolphin' was the result of the union of a bottlenose dolphin and a false killer whale, which is actually a member of the dolphin family.
The two parent animals mated while working together at Sea Life Park in Hawaii and Kekaimalu was born in 1985.
Her size - 600lbs and nearly 10ft long - colour, and shape are half way between that of her mother and father.
Unlike most hybrids, which tend to be sterile, Kekaimalu had two female calfs, both sired by male bottlenoses.
There have also been unproven reports of wolphins being seen in the wild.
For years scientists have been listening to a unique whalesong in the Pacific that some believe to be sung by a hybrid of a blue whale and another whale species
Perhaps even stranger is Nikita the 'Shetbra', the offspring of a Shetland pony called Linda and a zebra called Jonny in 2004.
They lived on a farm in Mongenzon, in north east South Africa, where Jonny learned to jump a fence between their enclosures.
The result was Nikita, who was born less than 50cm high, with very short legs, an unusually large head, delicate pointed hooves and stripes like her father.
Farmer Tom Beckett said: "I was rubbing my eyes in disbelief."
Other odd hybrids include the result of lions that have mated with tigers, called ligers and tigons; brown bears and grizzlies with polar bears, goats with sheep and wolves with domestic dogs.
NIH has them as family Delphinidae:
Pseudorca crassidens for the false killer whale
Tursiops truncatus for bottlenosed dolphin.
Misclassification or something more amazing?
Once you go whale, you never go back.
“But most hybrids are born in captivity - which may suggest sexual frustration and proximity are stronger factors.”
Which is why I stay out of the bars.... never know what you’ll end up with.
What about RINOS with elephants?
Then there’s Carville and Matalin.
Well, I have this neutered JRT and a spayed calico cat that think they are in love.If they could would the offspring be called Cad or a Dot? Maybe a Cog or a ditty?
if there is offspring......
“Which is why I stay out of the bars.... never know what you’ll end up with.”
“Go to bed at 2 with a 10. Wake up at 10 with a 2.”
“All the girls get prettier at closing time”
“Tried to drink her skinny.”
Cue the music...
Rhinophants.
humbat? womman?
LOL :)
Look at those gossipy cows in the background.
Who wants to be the one to tell the lamebrain reporter that dolphins ARE whales.
BUMP!
I guess the Wholphin is unusually qualified to run for President as a uniter.
Something about this should cause great stimulation among the Democrat Govenor class. Maybe an opportunity for their offspring to rule the earth and the seas?
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