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Clearwater Marine Aquarium

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Experience • Rescued Animals • Dolphins

Rudolph the Rough-Toothed Dolphin

Updated December 16, 2021 Posted July 24, 2020

Rudolph is CMA’s first resident rough-toothed dolphin. He was found stranded in Sanibel, Florida in December 2019. He was brought to CMA’s stranding station at Fred Howard Park for rehab before becoming a permanent resident.

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Meet Rudy

Rudolph

Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis)
Dolphin Terrace
Rudy
Age
5
Sex
Male
Diet
Herring, capelin, silversides, squid
Rescue Date
12/16/2019
Origin
Sanibel, Florida

Rudolph is a juvenile rough-toothed dolphin who stranded off Sanibel Island on December 16, 2019. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was first to respond to the stranding, assessed his health and transported Rudolph to Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s rehabilitation facility at Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs, about 20 miles north of CMA.

Rudolph was in critical condition when he arrived but slowly began to show signs of recovery. During his recovery, the team at CMA observed behaviors from Rudolph that indicated possible hearing loss. A hearing test was performed by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which uncovered that Rudolph does not have the hearing range to echolocate severely limiting his ability to locate food. Due to his hearing loss, NMFS determined he was non-releasable and selected Clearwater Marine Aquarium to be his forever home. CMA has a history of providing excellent care for dolphins who exhibit hearing loss, like Panama, PJ and Hemingway.

Visit Rudy
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Rudy Videos

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More about Rudy

First Rough-Toothed Dolphin at CMA

Rudy

Rudolph is a juvenile rough-toothed dolphin who stranded off Sanibel Island on December 16, 2019. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was first to respond to the stranding, assessed his health and transported Rudolph to Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s rehabilitation facility at Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs, about 20 miles north of CMA.

Rudolph was in critical condition when he arrived but slowly began to show signs of recovery. During his recovery, the team at CMA observed behaviors from Rudolph that indicated possible hearing loss. A hearing test was performed by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which uncovered that Rudolph does not have the hearing range to echolocate severely limiting his ability to locate food. Due to his hearing loss, NMFS determined he was non-releasable and selected Clearwater Marine Aquarium to be his forever home. CMA has a history of providing excellent care for dolphins who exhibit hearing loss, like Panama, PJ and Hemingway.

 

Did You Know…

Rudy was named after Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer because he was rescued around the holiday season.
Rudy was the first dolphin to receive rehab care at CMA’s new marine mammal stranding station in Tarpon Springs.
Rough-toothed dolphins received their name due to the ridges on their teeth.
Rudy’s age is estimated to be 2-5 years through pectoral fin x-rays. Studies have shown that estimated ages can be identified looking at growth plate development in the bony structure of the pectoral fin.
Rudolph
Rudy

Rudy’s Companion

  • Rex

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Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
727-441-1790

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A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM, A FL-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. CH352), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.800helpfla.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Federal Tax ID#: 59-2086737.

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