An unknown subspecies of dolphins found in the Pacific Ocean

The race of dolphins that live farther from the coast developed later than their relatives that live near the coast.

Scientists from the University of Miami discovered that one of the dolphin species living in the Pacific Ocean is divided into several subtypes. This was reported by Science Alert.

We are talking about bottlenose dolphins that live in the coastal waters of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean – between Baja California and the Galapagos Islands.

Now it has become known that their skulls and bodies are significantly smaller than those living on the coast of southern California or Japan.

In this regard, scientists say that it is a completely separate species.

“Special environmental conditions in the ETP may be the driving force behind the evolutionary differentiation of these bottlenose dolphins. Given these results, we recommend recognizing the ETP sea bottlenose dolphin as a distinct subspecies of Tursiops truncatus nuuanu ,” the researchers said.

Bottlenose dolphins are found in ocean waters worldwide, but their adaptation to specific coastal habitats has resulted in physiological and genetic diversity.

Scientists have identified two subspecies of bottlenose dolphins: the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin (T. ponticus) and the Lachilla bottlenose dolphin (T. gephyreus). However, experts believe that there are many more of their subspecies.

Note that the ETP dolphin is the smallest known bottlenose dolphin. They feed on squid and small fish.

Recall that early Mediterranean explorers off the coast of Albufeira stumbled upon a funeral procession of dolphins. The woman tried to get her dead son out.

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