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VIDEO: Rare White Dolphin Spotted In Monterey Bay

MONTEREY COUNTY (CBS SF) -- Sticking out like a sore thumb, a white dolphin was spotted amongst gray dolphins gliding across the Monterey Bay on Jan. 25.

Monterey Bay Whale Watch naturalist Melissa Galieti captured the rare sighting of a juvenile Risso's dolphin believed to be either leucistic or albino. Red eyes would qualify the dolphin as albino, while blue would suggest leucism, another genetic mutation which prevents melanin and other pigments from being deposited on the skin. The dolphin was only captured with closed eyes when it surfaced, so it's difficult to know for sure which condition is present until the eye color is identified.

It's likely this was the same dolphin seen last August, according to Galieti.

VIDEO:

White Risso's Dolphin Calf

short (and a bit shaky) video of the rare white Risso's Dolphin from 1/25/15. Video by Melissa Galieti

Posted by Monterey Bay Whale Watch on Tuesday, January 27, 2015

1-25-15 Very rare sighting today with a juvenile Risso's dolphin that was either leucistic or albino. It is hard to...

Posted by Monterey Bay Whale Watch on Sunday, January 25, 2015

 

 

 

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