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Scottish bottlenose dolphins between Texel and Den Helder

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July 23, 2019

A unique sighting for the North Holland coast last Friday. NIOZ researcher Jeroen Hoekendijk and fellow researchers from Wageningen Marine Research saw two groups of ten bottlenose dolphins gradually swim the Marsdiep, the channel between Texel and Den Helder, on Friday morning. "Very special," says Hoekendijk, "because you rarely see bottlenose dolphins from the coast and certainly not in such a large group".

Scotland

On the basis of the photos and video images of dolphins shared by Hoekendijk and colleagues from Wageningen Marine Research, researchers from the University of Aberdeen have determined that they are Scottish bottlenose dolphins. According to Scottish researchers, this is a first, because this is the most distant feedback from this group of bottlenose dolphins outside the British Isles.

Mischief

All bottlenose dolphins that live along the Scottish east coast are documented in a catalog. The Scottish researchers have thus been able to identify the bottlenose dolphins in the Marsdiep. The same goes for the dolphin "Mischief". This adult male can be recognised by a deep notch at the root of the dorsal fin.

Sightings of the male 'Mischief'. Dolphin "Mischief" can be recognised by a deep notch at the root of the dorsal fin. Source: University of Aberdeen catalogue.
Sightings of the male 'Mischief'. Dolphin "Mischief" can be recognised by a deep notch at the root of the dorsal fin. Source: University of Aberdeen catalogue.