Photographer captures octopus riding rarely seen dolphin, provides valuable evidence for ongoing research
Digital Camera World • • technology
Key Points:
- Photographer Bill Coulson captured a rare moment of a Risso’s dolphin preying on an octopus off the coast of Devon, England, showing the octopus clinging to the dolphin’s dorsal fin.
- Risso’s dolphins, identifiable by their bulbous forehead and scarred skin, are commonly found around Scotland but also in southern UK waters, including the South West of England.
- The photographs are being used as important evidence in research on an octopus population bloom and its effects on marine life in Devon and Cornwall, supporting conservation efforts.
- Bill Coulson is part of the University of Exeter’s Risso’s Dolphin Project South West, which relies on citizen science contributions to study and protect this species.
- For those interested in marine wildlife photography, using long telephoto lenses or bridge cameras with extended zooms is recommended to ethically capture distant marine animals from shore or boat trips.
