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.
"Goodnite Flipper,"
"Goodnite Shamu."
I miss the Wolphins...
“Dolphins were dolphins and whales were whales. Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again ...”
TINA, eat your food, fat lard.
WILL GEER = COMMIE FAG
What about manbearpig?
Boy the way Glen Miller played songs that made the hit parade.
Guys like us we had it made, those were the days.
And you knew who you were then,
Girls were girls and men were men,
Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again.
Didn’t need no welfare state, Everybody pulled his weight.
Gee our old LaSalle ran great. Those were the days.
But what about an Elephant and a pig?????
“Go ugly early”
Irrelephants? At least I hope.
How come it’s not a Dale? I’ll bet the two calves are chips of the old dale.
Lord John Whorfin could not be reached for comment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.