New study: Telling dolphins apart by faces – a new way of identifying dolphins

In a recent study, researchers at the Morigenos-Slovenia marine mammal society (ACCOBAMS partner) showed that individual dolphins can be identified through the face and invented a new method of identification of dolphins. They announced their findings in the papers published by the marine mammalian scientific research center.

Individual identification plays an important role in understanding the biology, ecology and behavior of cetaceans. The ability to distinguish individuals can provide valuable insight into basic biological and scientific problems, but it is also highly relevant to scientific protection. It has long been known that individual dolphins can be identified by dorsal natural markers. However, the sign of the fin may change, and the calves usually have not enough landmarks to distinguish them. Therefore, other methods of separating dolphins are very useful.

In this research, we proposed a new method of facial information recognition, taking wild common Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) as an example. They show that the features of Bottlenose dolphins' face are consistent over the long term and on both sides.

This new method is not a substitute for recognition based on the dorsal fin, but it can be supplemented by recording changes in markers over time and reducing false positives and false positives. Unlike the dorsal fin, the face does not suffer the same change due to external influences, so it may be more reliable over a long period of time. This new approach also makes it possible to re-identify calves after weaning (usually with finless markers) and enhances intergenerational knowledge. It may be particularly suitable for species that do not have multiple markers on the dorsal fin or that are completely devoid of dorsal fin.

This research also shows that we need to improve our current identification method yet. The widespread use of digital photography and computer aided matching may make it more feasible to use "different from traditional" identification means. The author encourages other researchers to investigate photographic records of similar findings

Located near the coast of New Zealand, Hector's Dolphins is the world's smallest dolphin, a famous dolphin of the genus Cephalorhynchus. Most of the world's most rare dolphins are seen around the south island. And it includes black signs on the face, thick body and creamy throat and abdomen. The group of Hector dolphins consists of 2 to 8 members. Unfortunately, the population of these species decreased significantly as a result of trawl fishing and squatting. Most deaths occur in fishing nets. One of two variants of Hector's Dolphin is thought to be the most dangerous dolphin. According to a survey conducted by the New Zealand Nature Conservation Bureau in 2010-11, the estimated number of these dolphins is 55.

In a recent study, researchers at the Morigenos-Slovenia marine mammal society (ACCOBAMS partner) showed that individual dolphins can be identified through the face and invented a new method of identification of dolphins. They announced their findings in the papers published by the marine mammalian scientific research center. Individual identification plays an important role in understanding the biology, ecology and behavior of cetaceans. The ability to distinguish individuals can provide valuable insight into basic biological and scientific problems, but it is also highly relevant to scientific protection. It has long been known that individual dolphins can be identified by dorsal natural markers. But the sign of the fin may change and the calves usually have not enough landmarks to distinguish them. Therefore, other methods of separating dolphins are very useful.