02.09.2022 – Morse code

There were two special activities today that involved a tail. In whales and dolphins, the caudal fin is horizontal. One swoop and the marine mammal moves many meters forward with ease. During our midday tour, a Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) turned sideways, part of the tail became visible. In the case of Sperm whales, the shape of the tail is used for identification. Every tail is individual, like our fingerprint in humans. During the evening tour, a Sperm whale hit the sea surface several times with its tail. Tail flapping can be a form of communication, among other things. This Sperm whale may have informed the second one where it is. It was like a Morse code.

Both on the noon tour and in the evening tour, we first saw Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). These dolphins touch our guests. You can’t resist their sociability, their playfulness and their lightness. It’s just a great pleasure to see them close to the boat. It just makes you happy.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins

15:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Loggerhead turtle

Stenella

10:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins

14:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Sperm whales, Loggerhead turtle

17:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Sperm whales