Generously named by Kenny Owen 

to honor and celebrate the wonderful and 

nurturing mother that is Gaby Owen

Amorzinha (#231) is a distinctive mom with a bent dorsal fin, caused by an injury that may have come from a line entanglement or boat strike. Luckily, she does not let this slow her down, and she has given birth approximately every other year since we’ve known her! She is the mother of #227, #548, #909, #1353, plus a 2023 calf. She is friends with Lybby (#66), and their 2021 newborns were first sighted together!

'Ancy' is lovingly named in honor of Nancy Stallworth Thomas for her 100th birthday by her goddaughter Dallas 'Lee Lee' McNamara

We first met Ancy (#64) in 2014 and have seen her almost every year since then! She is the mother of four known calves (#65, #545, #1333, and a 2024 calf) and is often seen in groups with other dolphin moms, including Lybby (#66) and Sandy (#4). We have seen Ancy throughout Galveston Bay, predominantly during the summer months.

Generously named by Madeleine and Raul Montes

Angelique (#39) is the dedicated mother of four dolphins: #40, #737, #1358, and a 2024 calf! She is easily recognizable with her tall thin fin, and her calves seem to have inherited her beautiful fin shape. Our team usually finds her in large groups with other mom/calf pairs, often behind shrimp trawlers.

Generously named by Saint Arnold Bike Team

Arnold (#211) recently acquired a new nick in his dorsal fin, but his tall, uniquely-shaped fin already helps him stand out from other dolphins! He is a confirmed male and is strongly bonded to Kemahsabe (#210). Male bottlenose dolphins may form “male alliances”, a strong relationship between adult male dolphins that can last years, even decades.

Generously named by the Prioleau Family

Named after the Astros’ big win in 2017! Astro (#495) became a new mom in 2017 to #767, and we spotted her with a new calf in 2023. She is often found in large groups of mom/calf pairs throughout the Bay.

Generously named by Lawrence Rearick

Celebrate the Astros by adopting Astro II! Astro II (#59) was the calf of Grace (#58) and was likely born in 2013, just before our research started. Astro II struck out on his/her own in 2016 when mom had a new calf, and he/she now hangs out with other known juveniles, including Calypso's (#203) calf, #279, who left his/her mom the same year.

Generously named by Atlas Restaurant Group

We have known Atlas (#85) a long time! Our researchers first met him in the Houston Ship Channel in 2014, and with 53 sightings, he is one of our most sighted dolphins. He is a year-round resident of upper Galveston Bay, and he is often seen in groups with juvenile dolphins. Based on his behaviors and associates, we suspect that he could be a young “teenage” male. Our team has never seen him below Eagle Point, so if you like to boat or fish in upper Bay, this is likely the dolphin for you!

Generously named by William Dickey 

in honor of Ellen Gerloff

Babe (#6) was sighted during our very first boat survey! With two new notches on its fin, Babe has recently become easier to spot and identify. Babe is often seen with Shiner (#225), Dutch (#10), and Squirt (#1).

Generously named by Lance Odom

Bevo (#424) is a confirmed male dolphin in his early 20's and is buddies with #148. He hangs out in upper and lower Galveston Bay, and you'll most likely find him bow riding large ships in the Houston Ship Channel!

'Bo' is lovingly named in honor of Bo Contreras for her 7th birthday by Dallas McNamara.

Bo (#308) is a photogenic mom and has had three known calves since we first met her over a decade ago (#309, #1341, and a new calf in 2025)! She spends the majority of her time in lower Galveston Bay but ventures into upper Bay from time to time. In fact, she was in upper Bay with a calf the first time we saw her in 2015 and during her most recent sighting! Her calves also seem to have inherited her photogenic trait!

Generously named by Catherine Williams.

Sadly, Catsu (#80) passed away on December 2, 2017.

Generously named by Catherine Williams.

Catsu Two (#282) is a confirmed male 

and is buddies with #237.

Generously named by Ellen Yarrell

Cruiser (#412) is a very special dolphin. We first saw her in 2015 when she was leaping, rolling and rubbing on seaweed, trying unsuccessfully to get a fishing line off that was wrapped around her dorsal fin. Luckily, the line was not around her body and did not impact her ability to swim or eat. After several months, the line worked its way through her dorsal fin, cutting off the top part. She is now free of the line and healed up well. We were absolutely thrilled to see her with a new calf in 2021! Cruiser serves as an important reminder to always properly discard of used fishing line and never to fish around dolphins.

Generously named by 

Cynthia and Donald Stevenson 

in honor of Cynthia Kostas

Delfini (#220) is a research team favorite and a prolific matriarch. A mother to five—including her newest 2023 calf—she became a grandmother in 2021 when her daughter Suri (#222) gave birth. Often seen in the upper Bay with her close friend Mariner (#23), Delfini’s 2021 calf belongs to a large, active cohort that includes her own grand-calf and offspring from mothers Lybby, Angelique, Grace, Terry Lynn, and Amorzinha.

Generously named by the 

Annunciation Orthodox School

Delphi (#151) is a confirmed male. The deep V notch in the top of his fin, called a "tipnick" by our researchers, makes him easily recognizable. We suspect Delphi is a young dolphin, just reaching maturity, and possibly forming a long-term bond with #218.

Generously named by Bren Gorman

Ducky (#75) is a social butterfly, often sighted in groups of 25 or more dolphins! She is the mother of calf #880 who was born in 2018.

Generously named by Shell.

We met Dutch (#10) on our very first boat survey in 2013! Dutch was one of our first catalogued dolphins and is a resident of upper Galveston Bay. We have seen him 53 times since 2013! Dutch and Shiner (#225) are close buddies and suspected males.

Generously named by Pat Hammond 

in memory of her father.

We have known Earle B (#14) a long time! In fact, researchers met him during our very first boat survey in 2013. Since then, we have spotted him throughout the Bay, traveling both in open bay and channel habitat. His best buddy is JakLuk (#35), and the active pair have been spotted bow-riding and feeding behind shrimp trawlers.

Generously named by an anonymous donor

Edwin (#187) is a male dolphin and Pappy's (#188) best bud! They are likely a "male alliance," which is a long-term bond between male bottlenose dolphins to improve reproductive success. We have known Edwin since 2014 and mostly seen him in lower Galveston Bay. We often find him socializing in large groups and following shrimp trawlers!

Generously named in honor of Emily Ford

Emily (#331) is a dedicated mother of three dolphins! When we first sighted her in 2015, she was with #338. Since then, we've seen her with #728 and a 2021 calf. She was most recently seen in June 2024 without a calf, so we suspect her 2021 calf recently became independent. We are keeping an eye out to see if she has another calf soon!

Generously named by 

Lorraine in honor of her mother, Erika

Erika (#539) is the mother of one known calf (#1361). We first saw Erika with her calf in 2021 while they followed a shrimp trawler. She has been sighted throughout Galveston Bay, and she has been seen every year since we first sighted her near Kemah in 2016!

Generously named by Deerwood Elementary

Flip (#244) is a juvenile that became independent of his/her mom at the end of 2015. Since then, Flip has been busy socializing with other juveniles and mother/calf pairs. Flip's dorsal fin changed in 2021, meaning it acquired new nicks and notches. Flip is a good example of why long-term monitoring of bottlenose dolphins allows us to catch these small (or large!) changes to their fins.

Named by the Jordan-Sardi Family with the generous contributions of donors who gave in memory of Maria Clara Sardi (1956-2025)

Forza (#100) is the mother of three known calves - #101, #922, and a calf born in 2024. Our team has seen her throughout Galveston Bay, mostly during the summer. She appears to be a social butterfly, often seen in large groups of dolphins, socializing and leaping!

Generously named by Philip and Denise Bahr 

in honor of Genevieve Pelton.

Genevieve (#2) was our second cataloged dolphin! She is the mother of calf #509 who became independent in 2016 and of #854 who was born in 2016-2017.

Generously named by Jack Henry & Associates in honor of the company's 50th anniversary.

Our team met Goldie (#24) in upper Galveston Bay on our very first boat survey in 2013! She is a resident of upper Bay and has been sighted there almost every year. She was most recently seen in almost the exact same place as when we met her 12 years ago! She is also a new mom and had her first calf in 2024!

Generously named by 

Cynthia and Donald Stevenson

Grace (#58) is a dedicated mama! She is the mom of Astro II (#59), #529, and a 2021 calf! Astro II became independent in 2016, the same year that #529 was born. We think #529 likely left mom in 2019-2020. In 2021, she gave birth to a new calf! The mother/calf pair have been making regular appearances in upper Galveston Bay.

Generously named by 

Gordon and Ruth Keenan in honor of Gwen Kirk

Reaching the cataloging of 1000 distinct dolphins was a huge milestone for the Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program - making this dolphin mom with the #1000 ID very special! Gwen has a well-marked fin with a notch on the tip, so she is easy to spot in the waters of the Bay. She had an adorable calf in 2022! The pair seem to spend a lot of their time in lower Galveston Bay.

Generously named by 

Clinton Roeder in honor of Heidi Roeder

Heidi (#235) has been a mother as long as we have known her! She had a calf (#239) with her when we first saw her in the summer of 2015. Since then, we've seen her with two other calves (#1315 and a 2023 calf). Her dorsal fin is easy to spot with a small nick on the tip and deep notches on the trailing edge. She prefers to hang around other mom/calf pairs near the Bayport Ship Channel, but we have sighted her in lower Bay and Trinity Bay.

Generously named by Gaylynn Thomas for James & Judy Bozeman in honor of Byron Bozeman.

We met Island Byron (#48) on our very first boat survey in 2013! S/he has been seen patrolling shrimp trawlers many times and has even approached our research vessel. We are concerned that these behaviors may indicate that people have been feeding him/her (a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act). Unfortunately, dolphins (like most animals!) take advantage of easy meals. Remember to never approach or feed wild dolphins.

Generously named by 

Gordon and Ruth Keenan in honor of Jack Kirk

Jack (#170) is a confirmed male dolphin and is buddies with RT (#150). They are likely a "male alliance", which is a long-term bond that male bottlenose dolphins have to improve reproductive and foraging success. We've seen Jack throughout upper and lower Galveston Bay, and he was most recently seen near Kemah!

Generously named by Jack Henry & Associates

Jack Henry (#338) is the calf of Emily (#331), and we estimate he was born in 2013 and became independent from Emily (#331) in 2016. He is a confirmed male that hangs out with other dolphins who became independent around the same time as him, especially Astro II (#59) and Nancy (#61). He is transitioning out of the juvenile stage, so we expect him to start forming a male alliance soon, and we are eager to see who he allies with!

Generously named by J.P. Fjeld-Hansen

JakLuk (#35) was first sighted at Eagle Point in 2014. Since then, we’ve seen him throughout Galveston Bay, but he spends most of his summers in upper Galveston Bay. He is a robust, athletic, presumed male that likes to hang out with his best buddy Earle B (#14). When they’re not chasing the ladies, they like to travel in channels, feed behind shrimp trawlers, bow-ride on ships, and toss fish in the air!

Generously named by an anonymous donor

Jersey (#43) is the mother of at least four calves born since we first sighted her in 2014. She is unique in that a couple were born very close together (only about 1.5yrs apart) and she has had multiple calves by her side for several years. She often travels with other young dolphins and her grand-calves, leaving us to wonder if she runs a daycare! Jersey and her nursery group have become quite popular among communities in Clear Lake and Taylor Lake because they frequent these waterfront neighborhoods, freely moving in and out of the bayous likely in search of prey.

Generously named by Karri Mahmoud

We first met Johnny Ronny (#117) in 2014 and have seen him every year since then! Johnny Ronny spends time throughout all of Galveston Bay, not showing a preference for a specific area. He lives on the edge getting very close to shrimp trawler nets! We can easily identify him due to the unique combination of markings along his dorsal fin and the notch on the dorsal fin tip.

Generously named by an anonymous donor in memory of Joy Lee Smith

Since we first met Joy (#377) in 2015, she has had four calves (#593, #1052, #1490, and a 2025 calf)! Sometime between sighting her in August 2024 and August 2025, she acquired a new notch on her dorsal fin. Joy is a good example of why long-term monitoring of bottlenose dolphins allows us to catch these small (or large!) changes to their fins.

Generously named by Suzanne and Adam Stiles 

in memory of their mothers, Judy and Ruth

We have known Judy Ruth Stiles (#97) for over 10 years, and in that time, we have met four of her calves - #98, #680, #1319, and a new calf in 2024. As a mom, we often see her in large mom/calf groups throughout Galveston Bay. Dolphin moms often stick together for safety and support. Judy Ruth Stiles is a resident dolphin of upper Galveston Bay and is predominately seen during the summer months.

Generously named by Laurian and Tom Tollett

Lucy (#132) is a juvenile that became independent in 2016. Since her first sighting in 2014 as a calf, she has had pronounced scars resulting from entanglement with a fishing line. By adopting this young dolphin, you will directly support our efforts to learn more about how human-dolphin interactions can affect dolphins like Lucy.

Generously named by LyondellBasell

Since first meeting Lybby (#66) in 2014, our research team has had the pleasure of watching her raise two calves: #67 and #908. Both are now independent of mom, and we were thrilled to see Lybby with a tiny baby in 2021! We've seen the pair several times over the last year, including one time in a group of about 15 dolphins patrolling a shrimp trawler in upper Galveston Bay.

Generously named by the 

Texas Mariners Cruising Association

Mariner (#23) is everyone's favorite socialite! She has sightings from around the entire bay, visiting with all different dolphins from mom/calf groups to male pairs and juvenile gatherings. She has been seen every year, starting with our very first boat survey in 2013. Throughout the years, we saw Mariner "babysit" other mom's calves, but we are excited to confirm Mariner now has a calf of her own!

Generously named by Sandy and Bryce Ward

We have been sighting Martin (#72) since he/she was a small calf. But Martin has grown up and separated from his/her mother, Piper (#71), in 2015. We now see him/her regularly hanging out with a group of other young dolphins.

Generously named by the 

Gessner family in honor of Barbara Gessner

Mrs. Potts (#78) is a mom! In fact, we have never sighted Mrs. Potts without a calf by her side! Starting with her first sighting in 2014, she had #73 with her, who stayed with her until the summer of 2015. The next time we saw Mrs. Potts in June of 2016, she had a new baby by her side, #523.

Generously named by Nancy’s Hustle

We first sighted Nancy (#61) when he/she was still a calf. Nancy started to venture out on his/her own in 2015, and became a fully independent juvenile by the summer of 2016. We often see Nancy hanging out with other young dolphins, including Martin (#72). Bow-riding is one of Nancy's favorite past times!

'Naomi' was lovingly named by Lisa Houlton in honor of her mother Francesca Moss.

We have known Naomi (#277) for over a decade, and over that time, she has had three calves (#278, #802, and #1371)! She is a resident of upper Galveston Bay, and we've predominantly seen her during the summer. Naomi's recent calf is in the process of becoming independent from mom, so we are eagerly on the lookout for her next calf!

Generously named by Ms. Amy Ardington

Nina (#30) survived a shark attack at some point during her life! You can clearly see the shark bite mark just behind the dorsal fin (a feature that helps us identify her). This tough dolphin is regularly seen and even had a calf in 2020!

Generously named by Marian and Austin Cornelius

Sadly, Olive (#45) was found stranded near the Texas City Dike on 2/24/2021. He is a confirmed male and was 228 cm long.

Generously named by The Prioleau Family 

in memory of Leon M. Payne, Jr.

We have known Otis (#34) a long time! He has a few prominent notches on his fin that make him easily recognizable. Since 2014, we have seen him frequently throughout the Bay, some times on his own, other times in large groups. He is often found in the Houston Ship Channel where he seemingly enjoys bow-riding! He likes to hang out with Arnold "Arnie" (#211) and his best buddy #210. We highly suspect that Otis is an adult male, but we are hoping to confirm this one day.

Generously named by an anonymous donor.

Pappy (#188) is a male dolphin and best buddies with Edwin (#187). Our team first met him in 2014, and we've sighted him almost every year since. Seeing him consistently throughout the years allowed us to detect when he acquired a new nick on the tip of his dorsal fin in 2020. He appears to prefer lower Galveston Bay and is often found following shrimp trawlers and socializing in large groups.

Generously named by the Smith family.

Pepsi (#285) is the mother of #740 (first seen in 2017 as a neonate) and a new calf in 2022. We’ve seen her a few times very close to shore feeding up against docks and seawalls. Maybe lucky fans will get to see her from land and identify her with her unique fin! She sometimes hangs out with another one of our moms, Jersey (#43).

Generously named by Wesley Sims.

Piper (#71) is Martin’s (#72) mother, and Martin became an independent young adult in 2015. We are excited to report that after five years of not seeing her, she was sighted in lower Galveston Bay in August of 2024! We are unsure where she was during those five years, but we hope she chooses to stick around in Galveston Bay!

Generously named by Becky Roof and Gary Smith 

in honor of their marriage

Since her first sighting in 2015, our research team has had the pleasure of watching Puravida (#434) raise two calves from newborns (#240 and #732). She is a protective mom that keeps her calves surfacing close by her side. During the summer months, she can often be seen with large mom-calf groups in the nearshore waters between Red Bluff and Eagle Point.

Generously named by June Shaw

RT (#150) is a suspected male dolphin and is buddies with Jack (#170) (a confirmed male dolphin). They are likely a "male alliance", which is a long-term bond that male bottlenose dolphins form to improve reproductive and foraging success. We've seen RT all over Galveston Bay, but he seems to show preference for the lower half of upper Galveston Bay.

Generously named by June Shaw

Rudy (#81) is a suspected male and has been a close buddy with Squirt (#1). He has frequented upper Bay, spending a lot of time following shrimp trawlers in the Bayport Ship Channel and 5 mile cut.

Generously named by St. Thomas' Episcopal School

Shanthi (#13) was a frequent visitor to upper bay, often hanging around Morgan's point with suspected juvenile dolphins through summer of 2016. We have not seen Shanthi since then, but are keeping a close eye out to see if he/she moved on to other areas of the Bay.

Generously named by Marian and Austin Cornelius

Sheba (#314) is a photogenic mom and one of the research team’s favorite dolphins! We have known her since 2015 and have met four of her calves: #451, #873, #1357, and a 2024 calf. She is an active resident of upper Galveston Bay, often seen socializing, bow riding, and following shrimp trawlers.

Generously named by Austin Cornelius.

Shiner (#225) is a presumed male that we have seen 60 times since first meeting him in 2015! In fact, Shiner is a year-round resident of upper Galveston Bay. He is almost always seen with Dutch (#10), his close buddy. His three distinct notches make Shiner very easy to spot by our research team.

Generously named by the 

Bowen and Brewster Families

Sir Swimsalot (#297) is a presumed male and is seen regularly with his buddy #298. We met both back in 2015 and they continue to be the best of friends. The pair keeps mostly to themselves, but are occasionally seen in small groups with female dolphins.

Generously named by Philip and Denise Bahr 

in honor of Sophia Pelton.

Sophia (#9) was one of our first cataloged dolphins (sighted during the first boat survey)! She is the mother of #219, who started venturing out independently in 2018 when Sophia was sighted with a new calf, #862. With her distinct upper and lower fin notches, she is easy to spot in the water!

Generously named by Shell

Squirt (#1) was our first cataloged dolphin, so he will always be #1 in our hearts! He is a confirmed male and is one of the most frequently seen dolphins in upper Galveston Bay, with nearly 70 sightings in our catalog. He is an avid flounder fisherman!

Generously named by Michael Brisch 

in honor of his wife, Karen Brisch

Stella (#582) is a mom with an elegant fin, first sighted in 2016 and seen often. We have observed her with three calves, with the most recent one born in 2023. She spends a lot of her time in upper Galveston Bay but has been spotted in lower Bay too. Stella spends time with other mom/calf groups between Kemah and Redfish Reef including her favorite associates Genevieve (#2), Jersey (#43), and Angelique (#39).

Generously named by Michelle Kay 

in honor of her husband Thomas Kay

We met Steve (#8) on our very first boat survey! As the years have gone by, we have watched his fin change to its current shape. The distinct permanent scar on the lead of his fin has helped us keep track of him despite all the changes. He has been sighted throughout upper and lower Bay and seems to prefer open bay habitat instead of deeper channels. He was last seen in a large group of dolphins that were socializing and following a shrimp trawler. It is very likely he is a male, but we have yet to confirm.

Generously named by Mariloli Odum 

in honor of her grandchildren.

Surfy (#302) is a confirmed male and is close buddies with #125. They have been seen in large groups socializing with other suspected male alliances including Tide (#69) and #79, and Kemahsabe (#210) and Arnold (#211). Male bottlenose dolphins often form “male alliances”, a strong relationship between adult male dolphins that can last years, even decades. These bonds are thought to increase fitness and reproductive success. When not pursuing the ladies, Surfy is an active guy, often interacting with shrimp trawlers and bow-riding on large ships!

Generously named by Marian and Austin Cornelius

Suri (#222) is a young female dolphin that became independent of her mom Delfini (#220) in 2016. Suri is sometimes seen visiting with Delfini and her younger siblings. In 2020, we saw Suri spending time with our well-known male dolphins Squirt (#1) and Rudy (#81), and in 2021 we were excited to see her with her very first calf (#1364). She is now often seen in upper Galveston Bay with mom/calf groups, and she had her second calf in 2024!

Generously named by 

Noble Energy in honor of Ted Romig

Ted (#89) is the calf of Terry Lynn (#88)! They were always spotted together in the ship channel, at a place the researchers have termed the "bus stop", a popular spot on the ship channel where dolphins appear to hang out waiting for ships so they can bow ride. Ted was first seen without his mom in 2019, and they have been sighted separately ever since, indicating that Ted became an independent juvenile in 2019.

Generously named by Charles Gussler 

in honor of his wife Terry

Terry Lynn (#88) is Ted's (#89) mom, and she had another calf (#1363) that was born in 2021! Her calf became independent from her in the last year, but they were spotted together foraging around trawlers and in the ship channel. Like other mother/calf pairs, they frequented the “bus stop”, a popular spot on the ship channel where dolphins appear to hang out waiting for ships so they can bow ride! We are eager to see if Terry Lynn has another calf soon!

Our co-PI, Kristi Fazioli, named her favorite 

dolphin in honor of her mom for her 

parent's 60th anniversary

We first met Trisha (#7) over a decade ago, on our first boat survey. She was the first dolphin our field team recognized from the boat, with her two large dorsal fin scoops! Since then, she has become the mother of four calves: #775, #903, #1316, and a 2022 calf. She hangs in upper Galveston Bay. Her most recent sighting was near the mouth of the Bay.