For decades, Mote Marine scientists have identified dolphins in Sarasota Bay by their dorsal fins, an attribute that scientists say is equivalent to a person's fingerprint.
"About 60-80% of the central west coast of Florida have unique patterns of nicks and notches on their dorsal fins, so it really does work like a fingerprint," said dolphin researcher Dr. Randall Wells of Mote Marine Lab.
Two of the most unique dorsal fins in local waters belonged to bottle nose dolphins known as FB-28 and Riptorn, both found floating in Sarasota Bay on Friday and Saturday.
"They probably were two of the most recognizable animals that called Sarasota Bay home," said Gretchen Lovewell of Mote Marine.
FB-28 was tagged back in 1971 and was known nationwide for a fungal growth on his dorsal fin. Riptorn was tagged back in 1980 and, as the name suggests, was known for the rips and tears in the dorsal fin, all left behind by a collision with a boat propeller.
"I knew about these animals long before I came to Mote," said Lovewell. "So these animals, because of the longterm studies, are known nationwide."
After finding the bodies of the two dolphins, Mote scientists performed necropsies to identify the cause of death. Now, they're waiting on the results, which they hope will provide helpful clues and context in the larger story.
These two dolphins are just a small part of an extensive dolphin research program. In Mote Marine's Marine Mammal Lab, scientists archive skeletons and have collected more than 700 specimens.
Scientists say those specimens can serve as the "canary in the mine," showing issues in the ocean long before we're even aware of them.
"They're breathing the same air that we're breathing. They're swimming in the same water that we're swimming. They're eating the same fish that we're catching," said Wells. "They are sentinels of changes to the ecosystem."
