during autumn 2012 we observed a number of bottlenose dolphins obvious with skin anomalies / skin diseases off La Gomera (Canary Islands). While emaciated bottlenose dolphins have become a more or less regular sight during the past, and some anomalies can be explained relatively straight away, at least one case from October 2012 is still puzzling:

A bottlenose dolphin calf carried large patches on both flanks, where its skin looked atypical in colour and character, hence appeared as a skin disease. This anomaly didn't look like anything we had observed so far. We were able to shoot some good quality photographic images of the individual, which are represented here:

If you have veterinary and/or pathological experience with cetaceans, we would like to know if you know about the (potential) cause for this anomaly. We will be grateful for any suggestions, which finally will be used for our study "Anomalies in Cetaceans off La Gomera" launched in 2010. High resolution images are also available.

-- 


Fabian Ritter
-Vorsitzender/President-

M.E.E.R. e.V.
Bundesallee 123
D-12161 Berlin

T/F: (0)30-644 97 230
e-Mail: ritter@m-e-e-r.de

www.m-e-e-r.org

---
The dolphins were having a great relaxed time 
and there were no major answers they wished 
to know the questions to...
(After Douglas Adams)