Deformed Dolphin Adopted by Sperm Whales; Cuter Than Baby Beluga?

What's potentially cuter than the baby beluga that captured everyone's hearts on the Internet? A disabled, bottlenose dolphin that has been adopted by sperm whales. The behavior exhibited between the two different species of mammals has baffled researchers.

Although the two species rarely mingle, behavioral ecologists Alexander Wilson and Jens Krause observed sperm whales interacting and nuzzling a lone dolphin in their midst. The dolphin, which suffered from a rare spinal formation, seemed to have been adopted into the group. It's possible that the dolphin couldn't keep up with its own pod due to its malformation.

Since sperm whales are slower than dolphins, the association between the two different species may have started with something called bow riding. This behavior, common among dolphins, occurs when they ride the pressure waves generated by a bow of a ship or, in this case, whales. It's possible that the dolphin could have tried to use the sperm whales in an effort to catch up to its own group and, in the process, adopted the whales as its new associates.

The real question, though, is why the whales decided to accept the dolphin. Several theories presented in an upcoming paper in Aquatic Mammals propose that the dolphin may have been seen as nonthreatening by the whales, and that it was accepted by default due to the way adult sperm whales "babysit" their calves. Sperm whales alternate their dives between group members, always leaving one member at the surface near the juveniles. This behavior most likely allowed the dolphin to maintain contact with the group at all times.

 Whatever the reason, the sperm whales have adopted the dolphin--and it doesn't look like they're going to part any time soon.

To check out photos of the dolphin with its adopted family, click here.