A dolphin that appeared pink has attracted attention online after it was video filmed swimming alongside darker dolphins near Qantab Beach in Muscat, Oman.
Arabian Daily reported that the sighting took place on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The footage has since circulated widely, prompting questions about the animal’s unusual color and species. However, its identity and the reason for its pinkish appearance remain unconfirmed.
WATCH: Rare pink dolphin spotted off the coast of Oman pic.twitter.com/hImXHvPitp
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 20, 2026
Why Do Some Dolphins Look Pink?
Pink coloring is not limited to the Amazon’s freshwater dolphins. Some marine dolphins also develop a pinkish appearance naturally.
Dr Vinod Sharma, director and head of veterinary services at DCC Animal Hospital & Petcare in Gurugram, told The Indian Express that colour changes can occur naturally in certain dolphin species, while others may have pigmentation abnormalities. He cited the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, also known as the Chinese white dolphin, as a marine example.
Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department explains that Chinese white dolphins become lighter as they mature. Their pink appearance is linked to blood vessels near the skin’s surface expanding to release heat during activity. That explains the colour in those dolphins, but does not establish what caused the appearance of the animal filmed off Oman.
Questions Over the Viral Footage
Writing in Oman’s Al Shabiba newspaper, Abbas Al Zadjali suggested the dolphins in the original Qantab footage looked more like Risso’s dolphins, based on their rounded heads and dorsal fins. He stressed that identification from a distant recording still needs specialist confirmation.
Risso’s dolphins can become pale grey or almost white as they age, according to NOAA Fisheries. Research also shows that accumulated pale scars contribute to their lighter appearance.
Al Zadjali also reported that some versions of the video included separate footage of pink humpback dolphins filmed in Thailand. Those clips should not be treated as evidence of the species seen in Oman. For now, the Qantab sighting is best described as a pale, pinkish-looking dolphin whose identity has yet to be confirmed.
