05.09.2026 – Tusks like the elephant ?

Very lucky sightings today! The Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) were a little bit less shy than usual. We got to see their robust, white bodies, full of scars. I always enjoy seeing them very much, they look very mysterious.

Steno had luck by having two times a group of Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris), around 8-10 individuals, which is rarer. The average group size is 3-7 individuals. We had calves with their moms, adult male and younger male. The matured males are recognisable by the two erupted teeth on the upper jaw, covered by barnacles. We had a younger male too. His tusk-like teeth did not erupt yet and were still hidden in the gum tissue. He also had less scars on the body than the mature male. The bone and teeth structure in their jaw is heavy and denser than elephant ivory ! 

By Juliette Colançon

Sightings of the day

Ribeira brava

09:00 No sightings

13:00 Risso’s dolphins

Steno

09:30 Blainville’s beaked whales

13:30 Blainville’s beaked whales, Risso’s dolphins