Scientists Discover First-Ever Dolphin With ‘Thumbs’ Off The Coast Of Greece

Credit: Alexandros Frantzis/Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute

It has left scientists scratching their minds because they have found the first dolphin to ever have "thumbs."

Just in the last few weeks, researchers have uncovered the contents of Earth's core and unearthed $540 billion worth of "white gold" hidden beneath a massive lake.

However, this most recent finding—which may be the most unexpected of all—comes from a dolphin that was sighted off the coast of Greece in the Gulf of Corinth.

The unusual dolphin has hook-shaped 'thumbs' carved out of its flippers, according to recently published photos.

Credit: Alexandros Frantzis/Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute

The Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute researchers have sighted the particular dolphin twice this summer while conducting boat surveys off the coast of Greece.

Still, the animal kept up with the rest of its pod despite being significantly different from its dolphin pals.

It was even observed swimming, leaping, bow-riding, and playing with the other dolphins in the Gulf of Corinth, according to Alexandros Frantzis, president of the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute and scientific coordinator, who spoke with LiveScience about the sighting.

The photographer, Frantzis, also mentioned: "It was the very first time we saw this surprising flipper morphology in 30 years of surveys in the open sea and also in studies while monitoring all the stranded dolphins along the coasts of Greece for 30 years."

While there are many mixed-species creatures found in the Gulf of Corinth, experts are a little taken aback by this most recent discovery.

The striped dolphin, which numbers about 1,300 in the Gulf, was the dolphin with the first-ever "thumb" in history.

However, Francis speculates that "the expression of some rare and 'irregular' genes" owing to inbreeding may be the origin of the unique flipper from the freshly discovered dolphin, which appears significantly different.

The "thumbs" are probably inherited, according to Lisa Noelle Cooper, an associate professor of mammalian anatomy and neurobiology at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

She also told LiveScience: "I've never seen a flipper of a cetacean that had this shape.”

"Given that the defect is in both the left and right flippers, it is probably the result of an altered genetic program that sculpts the flipper during development as a calf."

Adding: "The hook-shaped 'thumb' may have some bone inside of it, but it certainly isn't mobile.”

"It is lovely to see that this animal is thriving."

The good news for humans is that dolphins and humans have nearly equal levels of "planetary dominance" (a 2017 study found).

Since we would be completely screwed then.

However, The discovery of a dolphin with hook-shaped 'thumbs' off the Greek coast has intrigued scientists, emphasizing the need for ongoing exploration and appreciation of marine diversity.

This unique find showcases the resilience of marine life and underscores the mysteries that still await discovery in our oceans.