16.09.2026 – Golden dust
September 24, 2026
Whales and dolphins live their whole life in the ocean and feed on different preys. But what about hydration? How do they get access to freshwater? Cetaceans “drink” through their food. Squids, fish and krill have high water content (70-80%). As dolphins and whales bodies break down fats and proteins for energy, water is naturally produced as a byproduct, giving them the fluids they need !
Large baleen whales don’t eat big amount all year-round, they mostly eat during peak period in areas called feeding grounds. Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) can consume up to 16 tons of krill per day! For adult dolphins, for example the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), they can eat 4-9% of their body weight. Toothed whales use their teeth only to grab and hold onto their prey. They swallow their food whole, headfirst.
By Juliette Colançon
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins
13:00 No sightings
Steno
09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins
13:30 Bottlenose dolphins
16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
