14.11.2023 – Elegant swing into the blue

Today our spotter Drumond found some Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) for us. Thanks Drumond! We had the luxury of only being there with our boats Stenella and Ribeira Brava. So there were relaxed, close sightings with a WOW effect. These wondrous, wonderful, gigantic creatures of the sea allowed us to take part in their lives for a moment before they disappeared with an elegant swing into the blue depths. Majestic flukes were raised. The question came up, do all whales show their flukes? No. There are species of whales that are known for this. Sperm whales and Humpback whales display their flukes before their dives. 30% of Blue whales also raise their flukes before disappearing. While dolphins are identified using their dorsal fins, whales, which show their flukes, use this for identification. In Sperm whales it is the form of the fluke. Sometimes they have small flaws that make identification easier. In Humpback whales there is a pattern on the underside of the fluke that is individual for each animal.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

13:30 Sperm whales

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Sperm whales

13:30 Sperm whales