Dolphinchilla

Discovery LocationHumboldt Current

Lead ResearcherJ. Cousteau

Field Report Summary

Inhabiting the frigid waters off the coast of Chile, the Dolphinchilla possesses the densest fur of any marine mammal. This pelage traps a layer of air so effective it never actually gets wet skin. They are social creatures, often seen grooming each other's fur at the surface, which looks like a fluff-ball floating on the waves.

Physical Description

Bottlenose dolphin silhouette covered in plush, silver-grey chinchilla fur.

Habitat

Cold Coastal Upwellings

Dietary Behavior

Piscivore

Evolutionary Origin

Extreme thermal insulation

Behavioral Notes

Requires daily 'dust baths' in dry volcanic pumice floating on the surface.