Rare pink dolphins have recently graced the Gulf Coast, delighting observers and sparking curiosity about the reasons behind their unusual hue. 

The Houston Chronicle reported two sightings that had onlookers taking video.

Pink Dolphins sightings

On July 12 in Cameron, Louisiana Thurman Gustin of Houston was in for an extraordinary surprise when he spotted a completely pink dolphin. It was rose-colored extending from snout to tail.

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Another sighting took place hundreds of miles away at Roberts Point Park in Port Aransas, Texas, where Britt Thompson of Corpus Christi captured a shot of a bottlenose dolphin with a pink belly playfully following a tugboat on July 15. 

Thompson, an amateur photographer and retired English teacher who shares his work on Instagram, expressed his awe, saying, "They're just amazing to me." Indeed, pink dolphins are a rare and fascinating sight. And very few ever see them.

Dr. Erin Fougeres from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shed light on the phenomenon, explaining that dolphins' bellies turn pink as a means to release excess heat when they are active. The color pink on dolphins is particularly seen during the warm summer months in regions like the Texas coast. 

The process, known as vasodilation, allows more blood to flow through the peripheral arteries and dissipate heat into the cooler environment, resulting in the visible pink belly against their otherwise white skin.

Regarding the partially gray and partially pink dolphin photographed by Thompson, Dr. Fougeres clarified that it is a regular bottlenose dolphin, one of the nine distinct species found in the Gulf of Mexico, according to NOAA data.

Pinky is an Albino

Speculation arose among Facebook users about Gustin's sighting of a completely pink dolphin, suggesting it might be "Pinky," a famous bottlenose dolphin first spotted in southwestern Louisiana in 2007.

According to National Geographic Pinky is widely believed to be an albino dolphin.

Albinism is a genetic condition that leads to minimal or no production of melanin, the pigment responsible for determining skin, hair, and eye color, The National Institute of Health explains.

In wildlife, albinism is a rare occurrence, with estimates suggesting prevalence rates ranging from one in 20,000 to one in 1 million, according to research conducted by Purdue University.

While Pinky, the albino dolphin legend, has captured the imagination of many, it's important to note that another species of pink dolphin exists. These are Amazon River dolphins, found exclusively in the freshwater systems of South America.

As these enchanting pink dolphins continue to grace the waters along the Gulf Coast, their sightings provide both researchers and enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to observe and appreciate these rare creatures. And to speculate how they got to the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

Understanding the factors that contribute to their striking pink hue, whether due to vasodilation or albinism, adds to the intrigue and fascination surrounding these marine mammals.

Next time you find yourself near the Gulf Coast, keep an eye out for these delightful pink dolphins as they frolic in the waves. Nature's surprises never cease, and these pink dolphins are living proof of the breathtaking diversity that the world's oceans hold.