02.09.2023 – A beak is not just a beak

Marine mammals come in a wide variety of forms. They differ, for example, in color, markings, size and in the shape of the head or the dorsal fin.

Today the day gave us Short-fined pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). One aspect that differs in all three species is their beak. This is hardly pronounced, almost not visible in Pilot whales. It almost seems as if they have a kiss mouth. The beak of Bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins is distinct, but it is shorter in Bottlenose dolphins than in the smaller Atlantic spotted dolphins.

Our tours were all successful today. In the evening the guests were tested for their patience, but in the end there was a happy ending and we were able to observe a pod of Atlantic spotted dolphins.

Here you will find our petition links: https://www.lobosonda.com/whale-watching/marine-protection/

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Pilot whales, Blainville beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins

14:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins

17:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins