Scientists at the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute in Greece were left astonished after discovering a dolphin with deformed flippers that strikingly resemble human thumbs. The unusual specimen was spotted in the Gulf of Corinth not once, but twice over the summer, marking a significant finding in marine research.

President of the institute, Alexandros Frantzis, expressed his surprise, stating that this was the first time in three decades of surveys in the open sea and coastal monitoring in Greece that they had come across such an unexpected flipper morphology. Despite its "thumb-like" flippers, the dolphin appeared to be swimming, leaping, and playing normally, effortlessly keeping up with its pod.

Frantzis suspects that the dolphin's abnormal fin shape is not due to illness but rather a result of rare and irregular genes caused by inbreeding. The Gulf of Corinth is home to around 1,300 striped dolphins, which are isolated from their Mediterranean counterparts, limiting their breeding options. In fact, the striped dolphin population in the gulf is the highest permanent species of its kind in the Mediterranean, according to the Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force.

Striped dolphins are one of the most abundant cetaceans worldwide, typically found in groups of 25 to 100 individuals and known for their remarkable jumps of over 20 feet above the water's surface. Usually, their flippers remain intact unless damaged by predators or affected by disease.

Frantzis initially believed the dolphin to be injured upon first sight but quickly recognized the uniqueness of its deformed flippers. The research team immediately focused their attention on documenting this rare case, capturing photos and videos to further study the dolphin's condition.

The Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute reported their findings on YouTube in October, sharing the incredible images of the dolphin with its distinct thumb-like flippers. Although intriguing, there have been no reports of thumb-wielding orcas, providing some relief for boaters worldwide.

This discovery underlines the importance of ongoing research into marine ecosystems, genetic variations, and the impact of human activities on wildlife populations. It serves as a testament to the wonders of the natural world and the need for continued efforts in conservation and protection of our oceans.