Mutant dolphins!

But no random mutation, it seems:

A DOLPHIN has been discovered with an extra set of fins that could be the remains of back legs, providing further evidence that ocean-dwelling mammals once lived on land.

The bottlenose dolphin was caught by fishermen off the western coast of Japan last month and has been examined by researchers who yesterday made their findings public. . .

The five-year-old dolphin, about nine feet long, is believed to be the first found with such well-developed and symmetrical secondary fins though others have had partial protrusions. . .

Dr Ian Jackson, of Edinburgh University's Human Genetics Unit, said the discovery was significant and surprising. "You get cases of gene mutation that have given rise to things like extra fingers and toes in mammals," he said. "But this is more pronounced. The Japanese are right - this is probably the mutation of a gene that was important in the evolution of the dolphin."

Posted by David on November 6, 2006 10:40 AM