![\"Risso\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rissos-dolphins-greece-credit-AliceMartinelli8-cc4-wikipedia.jpg\")
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Risso\u2019s dolphins are often referred to as the \u201cghosts of the deep.\u201d File photo. Credit: AliceMartinelli8<\/a>, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>\/Wikipedia<\/p>\n The Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation has released captivating new footage of Risso\u2019s dolphins (Grampus griseus), one of the least understood and most elusive cetacean species<\/a> inhabiting Greek seas.<\/p>\n Unlike the playful, sleek-skinned dolphins<\/a> often seen leaping near coastlines, Risso\u2019s dolphins are creatures of the shadows. They are \u201cdeep-sea specialists,\u201d preferring the rugged underwater topography of canyons and steep trenches.<\/p>\n One of their most critical habitats is the Ikaria Trench, a massive submarine chasm north of the island of Ikaria<\/a>. It was here, in the autumn of 2000, that Archipelagos<\/a> first recorded their migration\u2014a breakthrough that sparked over two decades of systematic monitoring.<\/p>\n The new video highlights the species\u2019 most striking feature: their heavily scarred bodies. Born a dark gray, these dolphins accumulate white linear scars throughout their lives from social interactions and battles with their primary prey, deep-sea squid. As they age, some individuals appear almost entirely white, earning them the nickname \u201cghosts of the deep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEach sighting brings us one step closer to revealing the unexplored marine life of the Aegean,\u201d the Institute<\/a> noted. Because these dolphins are highly sensitive to human-induced threats\u2014such as noise pollution from shipping and plastic ingestion\u2014long-term research is vital. By using photo-identification to track the unique nicks on their dorsal fins, researchers can monitor population health and site fidelity without disturbing the pods.<\/p>\n This footage serves as a powerful reminder of the hidden biodiversity thriving just miles off the Greek coast. For the Archipelagos Institute, the goal is clear: to transform this scientific knowledge into a shield of protection for the Aegean\u2019s deep-water wonders.<\/p>\n