07.05.2022 – Dark yet colourful
May 15, 2022
10.05.2022 – Hunting creativity
May 17, 2022
A sea of silk cloth awaited us today. Ribeira Brava sailed comfortably out to sea. Our traditional fishing boat is perfect for unwinding. There is hardly a place where this works better. While you are gently rocked and look into the endless blue expanse, your thoughts can go on vacation. Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) joined the boat and enjoying themselves in the bow wave. And from this perspective, the admiring guests almost have the feeling that they are swimming with them. Such a day, such a wonderful experience, simply belongs in the holiday luggage. Filipe, our captain, created a gentle yet close encounter: this is his specialty! Thank you, Filipe!
In the afternoon we had a calm sea as well. Also, this time common dolphins showed up. At first only three animals, very busy with themselves. Then a large kindergarten group with a lot of youngsters.
A common dolphin can be seen in our title photo, which stands out from its group because of its melanism, the dark pigmentation on the otherwise light flanks. This morning we were talking about whether it is melanism in such animals or whether it could also be a hybrid of two different dolphins. Both options can be considered. However, in the afternoon we saw a female with this particular pigment coloration and with her was her calf of the same pigmentation. However, since the reproductive capacity of hybrid animals is limited, the thesis of melanism is more likely. Another assumption that melanism can be inherited is thus also confirmed.
A Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) also crossed our path and took a close look at us.
By Fatima Kutzschbach
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
10:00 Common dolphins
14:30 Common dolphins, Loggerhead turtle
Stenella
10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Common dolphins, Striped dolphins, Loggerhead turtle
