21.05.2025 – Tail slapping and Teddy

We had a great day for cetacean encounters today. Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were present throughout the day. In the morning we had some fantastic Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) sightings and Fatima finished the day with an incredible Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) encounter.

When looking at the sightings, Atlantic spotted dolphins were certainly the show-offs of the day. During the second Ribeira Brava tour we saw a few of the group lifting their tail flukes out of the water and slapping them against the water surface. This behaviour is called ‘tail slapping’ or ‘lobtailing’. Tail slapping can be connected to a number of purposes, including communication for instance to gather the group, play and, if fish is present, even hunting.

As we also had a lot of them bow riding, I could recognise an individual from the first encounter in the morning based on rake mark scarring in front of its dorsal fin. I decided to nickname him Teddy and I hope I will see him out there again soon.

By Hannah Carstens

Sightings of the Day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphin, Short-finned pilot whale, Loggerhead sea turtle, Portuguese Man O’War, Cory’s shearwater

13:00 Atlantic spotted dolphin

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphin, Short-finned pilot whale, Portuguese Man O’War

13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphin, Short-finned pilot whale, Cory’s shearwater

16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Sperm whale