According to Science magazine, marine researchers have discovered a group of sperm whales in the north Atlantic that has “adopted” a dolphin with a spinal deformity.

….behavioral ecologists Alexander Wilson and Jens Krause of the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin did not expect to find a mixed-species group when they set out to observe sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) some 15 to 20 kilometers off the island of Pico in the Azores in 2011. But when they got there, they found not only a group that included several whale calves, but also an adult male bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus). Over the next 8 days, they observed the dolphin six more times while it nuzzled and rubbed members of the group (see slideshow). The sperm whales seemed to at least tolerate it; at times, they reciprocated. “It really looked like they had accepted the dolphin for whatever reason,” says Wilson, who was snorkeling nearby. “They were being very sociable.”

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The scientists aren’t sure why the whales have come to accept this dolphin, given that there’s no obvious environmental advantage from the relationship. As for the dolphin, it’s possible that because of its spinal flaw, it couldn’t keep up with other dolphins, and so opted to hang out with the slower-moving whales for purposes of protection and, perhaps, companionship.

Quite cool.