Fill in the Blanks Whale Dolphin HybridOnline version Reading Article by Sheryl Place 1 sighted crossbow dorsal pigmentation DNA moniker classify reluctant expedition extract offspring speculate hybrid The team is also to the specimen as a new species since lone hybrids are often unable to reproduce . While the hybrids are commonly referred to as " wholphins , " the scientists say the is misleading . They she got separated from its pod and decided to join the rough - toothed dolphins . In a report published in July 2018 , the team confirrmed that the odd - looking male was indeed the of a melon - headed whale mother and a rough - toothed dolphin father . To confirm their suspicions , the scientists used a , equipped with a special dart , to the mammal's skin sample without harming it . They then compared the in the tissue to the genetic data of the two species collected by scientists over many years . The animal had a melon - headed whale's fin and dorsal cape but a rough - toothed dolphin's blotchy and sloping forehead . The mammal was first in August 2017 by a group of researchers on a two - week to document marine life off the coast of Kauai , Hawaii . One such extraordinary occurrence is the recent discovery of an extremely rare between a melon - headed whale and a roughtoothed dolphin .
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