Pinky (dolphin) explained

Pinky
Species:Bottlenose dolphin
Gender:Female
Birth Date:June 2007
Birth Place:Calcasieu Lake, Louisiana, US
Known For:Pink dolphin living in Calcasieu Lake, Louisiana
Owner:Erik Rue
Appearance:Pinkish/white hue due to albinism; visible blood vessels and reddish eyes

Pinky is an albino bottlenose dolphin found in Calcasieu Lake, Louisiana.[1] Pinky was first spotted in June 2007 by a boat captain, Erik Rue. In 2015, Rue was able to capture photo evidence of Pinky mating, proving that she is female.[2] The dolphin has become a tourist attraction, and conservationists have asked visitors to leave the dolphin alone.[3] Pinky's behavior is similar to the rest of the dolphins in her pod, although she tends to spend more time underwater.[3] The animal's popular name is derived from where it frequently lives as well as its skin hue.

Coloring

Although it is quite rare to see an albino animal in the wild, Pinky has a few signs that appear to confirm her albinism. Blood vessels and eyes with a reddish hue can be seen through Pinky's skin, a key indicator that the cells that normally make the pigment melanin, are hardly active in this dolphin's body.[4] Although albinism can be hereditary, it is unknown if Pinky's parents were of a pinkish/white hue or if they simply carried this specific gene mutation which they then passed down to Pinky.

In 2017, a video was taken showing two albino dolphins swimming in the lake, presumed to be Pinky and her calf.[5]

See also

References

About the Author AZ Animals Staff AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, Author, A., Staff, A., & AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts. (2022, August 12). Amazon River Dolphin (pink dolphin). Retrieved October 28, 2022, from https://a-z-animals.com/animals/pink-dolphin/

Notes and References

  1. Web site: March 9, 2009. Pink dolphin appears in US lake. June 1, 2009. The Daily Telegraph.
  2. Web site: Pinkie, the Rare Pink Dolphin, Spotted in Louisiana Waters Confirmed a Female. 2020-10-14. ABC News. en.
  3. Web site: 2019-06-21. Protecting A National Treasure: Pinky The Pink Dolphin and Her Calf. 2020-11-04. Pegasus. en-US.
  4. Web site: 2015-09-09. How Did Rare Pink Dolphin Get Its Color?. https://web.archive.org/web/20191122191407/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/09/150909-pinky-albino-bottlenose-dolphin-animals-science/. dead. November 22, 2019. 2020-10-14. National Geographic News. en.
  5. Web site: Sivarajah. Lishyarini. 2019-05-06. A rare pink dolphin named 'Pinky' is now a mother of an adorable pink calf. 2020-10-14. Good Times. en-US.