Paul Watson was arrested in Greenland in July of 2024. Paul has been on the front lines defending whales for decades. Please email the Danish Ministry of Justice to demand Captain Paul’s release! Email: jm@jm.dk

What would a hypothetical Orca (Orcinus orca) X Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops) hybrid look like realistically speaking?

Ok so for context, I was browsing on DeviantArt and saw this cool speculative false orca x white-sided dolphin art (here it is for anyone curious https://www.deviantart.com/namu-the-orca/art/Speculative-dolphin-hybrid-1093179906) , and got me thinking of another hybrid I’ve thought about before from time to time and that is a mix between an orca and a bottlenose dolphin. I’ve been trying to make a design for what such a hybrid would look like and I tried drawing what one might look like in the past but could never really come up with a design that felt real if that makes sense, (and I’ve looked and no one else has attempted to make one so I have no reference, going completely off scratch here) so I’m asking you guys, to anyone whos an expert on cetaceans, someone who knows how genetics work or just someone who has experience in creature design give me some advice and or pointers on how I could blend anatomical features and colors and patterns of both animals in a way that feels plausible. I’ve tried looking at reconstructions of Orcinus citoniensis for some inspiration too since they kinda have features of both an orca and a more “typical” looking dolphin so maybe that’s somewhere in the right direction?

Also remember this is speculative so we are just going under the assumption that by some miracle the two species are compatible, so no replies going “erm well they can’t produce a hybrid” please, cause that’s not gonna help me in what I’m trying to do I’m not asking if they can I’m asking what the result would look like if they could

https://preview.redd.it/b3f9u311mo4e1.png?width=611&format=png&auto=webp&s=16077aac53a76ab3ee3287d7136c92b6e5c8cba9

Dont know if this is a dumb question, but Ive been doing a lot of research on whale hunting in Norway and Japan and I went into the japanese governmental fisheries website and they have a document stating that whale hunting is good because they have to compete with whales for fish but thats not actually so true... is it? There is currently no scientific evidence for this so Im really confused as to why two whole governments of two different countries use this as an argument.

https://preview.redd.it/6l79y6va7ztd1.png?width=674&format=png&auto=webp&s=f5d1dd3150aa9df8ec7a07ec24ed38992561fd3a

Just wondering what everyone's favourite whale/dolphin/porpoise is and sharing some love for them. Mine's the harbour porpoise and the cachalot/sperm whale :)

The harbour porpoise because they were very abundant around the waters of my hometown. I went to the sea often just to try and spot them, really beautiful but shy animals! They made my day a little brighter every time and have been swimming in my mind ever since I moved away.

The cachalot/sperm whale is a species that I already was enamored with as a child, and I love how significantly different they are in shape, communication, diet and skills compared to most great sized whales. Also, I am really interested in the complexity of their codas.

On a whale watching boat trip, the guide pointed out dozens of “Harbor Porpoises” saying they hardly ever see them so it was very special. Afterwards I read the differences between dolphins and porpoises and one point was that dolphins leap and play at the surface but porpoises do not. Is that a correct distinction? Are these leaping animals actually Harbor Porpoises?

Ones I already know of:

• Blue x Fin whale
• Blue x humpback
• Antarctic x common minke

Looking for more if there is any, thanks!

I am specifically looking for ones based on their lives in the wild; analyses on their minds and social dynamics.

Any related suggestions are greatly appreciated! 🐋