Video: Rare spotted dolphin 'Patches' seen off California coast

A rare piebald dolphin called "Patches" has once again been spotted off the California coast.

The black-and-white speckled bottlenose was seen on Monday by a Dana Wharf Whale Watching boat near Dana Point in Orange County, reports the Orange County Register. Patches was swimming among a pod of 40 other dolphins.

Robin Lowe, a naturalist with the Orange County chapter of the American Cetacean Society, was aboard the lucky whale watching boat and quickly picked out Patches from the pod.

"It is so very rare to see this dolphin," said Lowe, who recognized Patches immediately. "I was over the moon with excitement."

Patches, a rare black-and-white dolphin, was spotted among a pod of 40 other bottlenoses on Monday, May 22 near Dana Point, Calif. Patches, a rare black-and-white dolphin, was spotted among a pod of 40 other bottlenoses on Monday, May 22 near Dana Point, Calif. Photo: Courtesy Robin Lowe Photo: Courtesy Robin Lowe Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Video: Rare spotted dolphin 'Patches' seen off California coast 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

According to the naturalist, the dolphin has leucism, a genetic condition that results in a partial loss of pigmentation that accounts for Patches' unique black, white and pink color scheme. Leucism can affect any animal, whether covered in feathers, scales or skin.

Sightings of Patches have been infrequent since naturalist Mike Tyson first saw the dolphin in 2006, says the Register. The dolphin, which scientists believe to be a young adult, has been spotted as far south as San Diego and as far north as Santa Cruz Island in Santa Barbara County. Earlier this year, a volunteer census group sighted Patches off Point Vicente.

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