Dolphin School Class Newsletter: Let's try to tell the bottlenose dolphins at Kyoto Aquarium apart!

Kyoto Aquarium is currently home to five bottlenose dolphins. We often get asked, "How do you tell the dolphins apart?" Actually, there are distinguishing features you can spot if you observe them carefully. This time, dolphin animal care staff Sato will explain how to tell the five dolphins apart.

Before introducing the characteristics of dolphins, let's first introduce the names of body parts that can help you distinguish between them.

The terms "rostrum" and "melon part" might be unfamiliar to many of you. The "rostrum" is the part that looks like a beak and plays an important role in catching fish. The "melon part" is the part near the front of the head and is responsible for emitting ultrasound during echolocation (the ability to sense the surroundings by emitting ultrasound).

Now, let's introduce the characteristics of each one!

Deal <br />Black body color, straight teeth, large eyes

Kia <br />Short snout, eyebrow-like markings on the melon-shaped part of the nose, sharp eyes

Marten <br />It has a white body, a short snout, and black markings around its eyes.

Seed <br />Long snout, double eyelids, four line-like patterns on the melon-shaped part

Tsumugi <br />Has double eyelids, a dark pink underside, and a V-shaped pattern on the melon-shaped part.

I would be very happy if you could remember these characteristics and be able to distinguish the dolphins at Kyoto Aquarium.

Actually, my first challenge as a animal care staff was "distinguishing between the dolphins." If you can't tell the dolphins apart, you won't be able to share information with other animal care staff or veterinarians when you discover an injury or notice unusual behavior. That's why being able to distinguish between the dolphins is so important when working as a animal care staff. At first, they all looked the same to me, but after seeing the dolphins face-to-face every day for about a month... one day, I suddenly realized, "Wow! They all look completely different!!" I was so moved when I could tell them apart, and I still remember that feeling to this day. I really want you all to experience that feeling too!

Inside the aquarium, you'll find exhibits that allow you to learn a lot about the dolphins, such as a "relationship chart" depicting the relationship between the dolphins and our animal care staff, and signs introducing the five dolphins in the dolphin stadium. When you visit Kyoto Aquarium, please be sure to check them out!

Just like us, dolphins have individual personalities beyond their appearance, including their strengths and weaknesses. You can see these aspects in animals program, "Dolphin School."

Please come and meet these five unique dolphins!

★Click here to learn more about Dolphin School!