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Dolphin And Whale Mate To Create A 'Wolphin'
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 3-27-2008 | Stephen Adams

Posted on 03/27/2008 6:21:41 PM PDT by blam

Dolphin and whale mate to create a 'wolphin'

By Stephen Adams
Last Updated: 6:55am GMT 27/03/2008

If life on Earth was not strange enough, nature occasionally throws a very unusual creation into the genetic mix.

Most hybrids tend tend to be sterile, but Kekaimalu the 'wolphin' has given birth to two calfs

Although it is extremely rare, animals occasionally succeed in producing offspring with mates from closely related species.

Scientists believe some actively try to mate outside their own species to increase the diversity of their wild populations.

But most hybrids are born in captivity - which may suggest sexual frustration and proximity are stronger factors.

Kekaimalu the 'wolphin' was the result of the union of a bottlenose dolphin and a false killer whale, which is actually a member of the dolphin family.

The two parent animals mated while working together at Sea Life Park in Hawaii and Kekaimalu was born in 1985.

Her size - 600lbs and nearly 10ft long - colour, and shape are half way between that of her mother and father.

Unlike most hybrids, which tend to be sterile, Kekaimalu had two female calfs, both sired by male bottlenoses.

There have also been unproven reports of wolphins being seen in the wild.

For years scientists have been listening to a unique whalesong in the Pacific that some believe to be sung by a hybrid of a blue whale and another whale species

Perhaps even stranger is Nikita the 'Shetbra', the offspring of a Shetland pony called Linda and a zebra called Jonny in 2004.

They lived on a farm in Mongenzon, in north east South Africa, where Jonny learned to jump a fence between their enclosures.

The result was Nikita, who was born less than 50cm high, with very short legs, an unusually large head, delicate pointed hooves and stripes like her father.

Farmer Tom Beckett said: "I was rubbing my eyes in disbelief."

Other odd hybrids include the result of lions that have mated with tigers, called ligers and tigons; brown bears and grizzlies with polar bears, goats with sheep and wolves with domestic dogs.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dolphin; genetics; mate; whale; wolphin
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1 posted on 03/27/2008 6:21:41 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam

Dimocrats love this kind of stuff. Cats laying down with dogs ect.


2 posted on 03/27/2008 6:25:53 PM PDT by southernerwithanattitude ({new and improved redneck})
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To: blam

OK. Who was on top? I hope the dolphin!


3 posted on 03/27/2008 6:26:34 PM PDT by devane617 (Find friends, ditch enemies !)
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To: southernerwithanattitude

4 posted on 03/27/2008 6:28:26 PM PDT by null and void (It's 3 AM, do you know where Hillary is? Does she know where Bill is? Does Bill know what 'is' is?)
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Doomed, I say.
5 posted on 03/27/2008 6:28:28 PM PDT by RandallFlagg (Satisfaction was my sin)
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To: southernerwithanattitude

Mass hysteria!


6 posted on 03/27/2008 6:28:41 PM PDT by dfwgator (11+7+15=3 Heismans)
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To: null and void

See thats the kind of stuff that happens. lol


7 posted on 03/27/2008 6:29:35 PM PDT by southernerwithanattitude ({new and improved redneck})
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To: RandallFlagg
Already out, a 'Killphin'. Orca, Dolphin mix.
8 posted on 03/27/2008 6:29:49 PM PDT by BGHater ($2300 is the limit of your Free Speech.)
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To: dfwgator

Woman and children affected most.


9 posted on 03/27/2008 6:30:48 PM PDT by southernerwithanattitude ({new and improved redneck})
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To: blam

Now that's a horse of a different color!

10 posted on 03/27/2008 6:30:52 PM PDT by martin_fierro (*snort!*)
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To: blam

"I'm my own best friend."

11 posted on 03/27/2008 6:32:59 PM PDT by dfwgator (11+7+15=3 Heismans)
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To: blam

And we have a Liberino running on the Republican ticket.


12 posted on 03/27/2008 6:33:01 PM PDT by mplsconservative
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To: blam
A bottlenose dolphin and a false killer whale mate:

Bringing forth a false-nose bottle-killer!

13 posted on 03/27/2008 6:37:55 PM PDT by Jagman (Liberalism is a "progressive" disease)
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To: blam
Scientists believe some actively try to mate outside their own species to increase the diversity of their wild populations.

Personally, I call this perversion or liberalism, one and the same.

14 posted on 03/27/2008 6:40:01 PM PDT by american_ranger (Never ever use DirecTV)
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To: Jagman

Michael Jackson?


15 posted on 03/27/2008 6:41:25 PM PDT by Excellence (Bacon Bits Make Great Confetti)
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To: blam
Other odd hybrids include the result of lions that have mated with tigers, called ligers and tigons;

It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic.

16 posted on 03/27/2008 6:41:43 PM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: blam

A Killer whale is actually a dolphin.. and not a whale at all.. same with false killer whale..


17 posted on 03/27/2008 6:42:31 PM PDT by hosepipe (CAUTION: This propaganda is laced with hyperbole....)
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To: american_ranger

If a democrat mated with a donky what would you get? Poop, a couple times per day. That is really extending the species!


18 posted on 03/27/2008 6:46:09 PM PDT by MtnClimber (Not liking my choices in this election!)
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To: blam

Let me guess. The male was the dolphin.

Had it been the other way around I think the female dolphin would have broken underwater speed records trying to get away.


19 posted on 03/27/2008 6:49:24 PM PDT by Ronin (Bushed out!!! Another tragic victim of BDS.)
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To: hosepipe
It gets better:

Unlike most hybrids, which tend to be sterile, Kekaimalu had two female calfs, both sired by male bottlenoses.

As opposed to female bottlenoses... unlike most hybrids.

20 posted on 03/27/2008 6:49:31 PM PDT by Ezekiel
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To: hosepipe

NIH has them as family Delphinidae:
Pseudorca crassidens for the false killer whale
Tursiops truncatus for bottlenosed dolphin.

Misclassification or something more amazing?


21 posted on 03/27/2008 6:50:06 PM PDT by scrabblehack
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To: blam

Once you go whale, you never go back.


22 posted on 03/27/2008 6:51:53 PM PDT by denydenydeny (Expel the priest and you don't inaugurate the age of reason, you get the witch doctor--Paul Johnson)
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To: blam

“But most hybrids are born in captivity - which may suggest sexual frustration and proximity are stronger factors.”

Which is why I stay out of the bars.... never know what you’ll end up with.


23 posted on 03/27/2008 6:52:08 PM PDT by mad puppy (Never have I felt so politically radical and I swear I didn't move an inch.)
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To: blam
Other odd hybrids include the result of lions that have mated with tigers, called ligers and tigons; brown bears and grizzlies with polar bears, goats with sheep and wolves with domestic dogs.

What about RINOS with elephants?

24 posted on 03/27/2008 6:54:10 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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To: blam

Then there’s Carville and Matalin.


25 posted on 03/27/2008 6:57:31 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Who Would Montgomery Brewster Choose?)
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To: blam

Well, I have this neutered JRT and a spayed calico cat that think they are in love.If they could would the offspring be called Cad or a Dot? Maybe a Cog or a ditty?


26 posted on 03/27/2008 6:59:30 PM PDT by eastforker (Get-R-Done and then Bring-Em- Home)
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To: blam
The result was Nikita [Mikulski], who was born less than 50cm high, with very short legs, an unusually large head, delicate pointed hooves and stripes like her father.


27 posted on 03/27/2008 6:59:55 PM PDT by RoadKingSE (How do you know that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a muzzle flash?)
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To: blam
I read a thread earlier where some guy claims to have been raped by a wombat and now speaks Australian..........

if there is offspring......

28 posted on 03/27/2008 7:01:44 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Congress needs to investigate the increasing disappearance of socks from washers)
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To: mad puppy

“Which is why I stay out of the bars.... never know what you’ll end up with.”

“Go to bed at 2 with a 10. Wake up at 10 with a 2.”

“All the girls get prettier at closing time”

“Tried to drink her skinny.”


29 posted on 03/27/2008 7:03:01 PM PDT by live+let_live
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To: Paleo Conservative
What about RINOS with elephants?

Cue the music...


30 posted on 03/27/2008 7:04:00 PM PDT by SC Swamp Fox (Join our Folding@Home team (Team# 36120) keyword: folding)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Rhinophants.


31 posted on 03/27/2008 7:05:38 PM PDT by SC Swamp Fox (Join our Folding@Home team (Team# 36120) keyword: folding)
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To: Hot Tabasco
some guy claims to have been raped by a wombat

humbat? womman?

32 posted on 03/27/2008 7:08:44 PM PDT by SC Swamp Fox (Join our Folding@Home team (Team# 36120) keyword: folding)
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To: denydenydeny

LOL :)


33 posted on 03/27/2008 7:11:47 PM PDT by beaversmom
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To: mad puppy
An oldie but goodie.
34 posted on 03/27/2008 7:12:08 PM PDT by Richard Kimball (Sure, they'd love to kill me, as long as they can do it without admitting I exist)
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To: blam

35 posted on 03/27/2008 7:12:55 PM PDT by Roscoe Karns
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To: martin_fierro

Look at those gossipy cows in the background.


36 posted on 03/27/2008 7:13:08 PM PDT by beaversmom
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To: blam

Who wants to be the one to tell the lamebrain reporter that dolphins ARE whales.


37 posted on 03/27/2008 7:14:25 PM PDT by dangus
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To: dangus

BUMP!


38 posted on 03/27/2008 7:23:28 PM PDT by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: blam

I guess the Wholphin is unusually qualified to run for President as a uniter.


39 posted on 03/27/2008 7:24:08 PM PDT by wildbill
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To: blam

Something about this should cause great stimulation among the Democrat Govenor class. Maybe an opportunity for their offspring to rule the earth and the seas?


40 posted on 03/27/2008 7:29:09 PM PDT by aaCharley
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To: wildbill

"Goodnite Flipper,"
"Goodnite Shamu."

I miss the Wolphins...

41 posted on 03/27/2008 7:30:49 PM PDT by billorites (Freepo ergo sum)
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To: blam

“Dolphins were dolphins and whales were whales. Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again ...”


42 posted on 03/27/2008 7:48:14 PM PDT by LiberConservative (Part of the "Vast Whitey Wing Conspiracy")
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To: Constitution Day

TINA, eat your food, fat lard.


43 posted on 03/27/2008 7:52:51 PM PDT by Texas Songwriter
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To: billorites

WILL GEER = COMMIE FAG


44 posted on 03/27/2008 8:11:10 PM PDT by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
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To: blam

What about manbearpig?


45 posted on 03/27/2008 8:12:02 PM PDT by I'm ALL Right! (Dear RNC: Not one Conservative Candidate? Not one "RED" penny)
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To: LiberConservative
"Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again ...” "

Boy the way Glen Miller played songs that made the hit parade.
Guys like us we had it made, those were the days.

And you knew who you were then,
Girls were girls and men were men,
Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again.

Didn’t need no welfare state, Everybody pulled his weight.
Gee our old LaSalle ran great. Those were the days.

46 posted on 03/27/2008 8:18:42 PM PDT by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: blam

But what about an Elephant and a pig?????


47 posted on 03/27/2008 8:25:24 PM PDT by MediaMole
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To: live+let_live

“Go ugly early”


48 posted on 03/27/2008 8:37:29 PM PDT by Atchafalaya
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To: Paleo Conservative

Irrelephants? At least I hope.


49 posted on 03/27/2008 8:40:41 PM PDT by TNdandelion ("I have no doubt that Sen. Clinton would make a good President"--John McCain)
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To: blam

How come it’s not a Dale? I’ll bet the two calves are chips of the old dale.


50 posted on 03/28/2008 3:55:48 AM PDT by Roy Tucker ("You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality."--Ayn Rand)
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