Rare marine mammal filmed swimming near Muscat beach; experts debate whether it's an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin or a Risso's dolphin whose color lightened with age
A dolphin with a bright pink hue was seen swimming in the sea alongside darker-colored dolphins, near Qantab Beach in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
The unusual sight has captured the interest of animal enthusiasts around the world.
According to reports published following the footage, one possibility is that it is an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, a species whose adults may develop a pinkish hue.
The pink color is not necessarily the result of special pigmentation. In certain species of marine dolphins, including the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, the hue may be related to blood vessels visible through the skin. However, at this stage no definitive confirmation has been published identifying the dolphin filmed in Oman or explaining its color.
Following a report published in the Omani newspaper Al-Shabiba, writer Abbas Al-Zadjali claimed that the dolphins in the original video actually appear to be Risso's dolphins, whose color may lighten with age.
The report also drew interest because pink dolphins are known to many primarily from the Amazon in South America.
The coasts of Oman, and especially the Muscat area, lie along the shores of the Gulf of Oman and offer marine habitats for a variety of animals.
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