12.06.2019 – Seasonal specialty

The group of guests on board our Stenella, containing both familiar and new faces, was extremely eager to go out and see animals today. Before long, the generous Atlantic revealed an enormous and interactive group of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). These charismatic dolphins never fail to make us smile and we were able to spot the tiniest calf clumsily leaping alongside its mother as the pod sped and lunged out of the water near our zodiac.

In general, the species enjoys the stretches of warmer waters along continental shelves with some pods even considered as residents, such as those visiting the lagoons of the Bahamas. The interactive nature of the well-documented spotted dolphins in the Bahamas has helped scientists reveal important details on their complex social lives and language. Spotted dolphins, however, also enjoy the deep, coastal waters of oceanic islands like Madeira, and are seasonal visitors that are more abundant during the summer months. Unfortunately, the population dynamics of the species around Madeira is not so well documented due to the huge populations visiting the islands waters during the warmer season.. but that can easily change in the near future. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know whether the same spotted dolphins return to the islands waters every summer?

In contrast to the spotted dolphins, the shy and gentle Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are extremely well documented, with local scientists dubbing several of the clans as residents. Our second sighting on the Stenella was with these frequent visitors, while the Ribeira Brava also managed to track down a school of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that are often seen swimming alongside groups of the two species named above.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

15:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales