03 September 2015

Dorsal fin changes



The dorsal fin of this striped dolphin evolved dramatically over the past year (September 2014 - August 2015). This case suggests that ripped skin exposing the underlying tissue may result in loss of the fin section which remains exposed.

After one year, the original lesion still hasn't completely healed and the remaining open wounds might result in further fin changes.

Being able of performing regular photoidentification surveys is fundamental to track the evolution of dorsal fin markings, and thus allow for the correct identification of individuals over time.

(Photos by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

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