As reported in a heart-warming story from National Geographic, researchers were surprised to find a pod of sperm whales had “adopted” a lone dolphin with a deformed spine.
Scientists have also found that recent encounters between humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins reveal a playful side to interspecies interaction. In two different locations in Hawaii, scientists watched as dolphins “rode” the heads of whales: the whales lifted the dolphins up and out of the water, and then the dolphins slid back down. Watch the video for more.
Top photo: Alexander Wilson and Aquatic Mammals
Bottom: AMNH Science Bulletins
