The story of crabs, sponges and sea anemones
October 27, 2025
Meet Marion
October 28, 2025
The species of the day was no doubt the Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus). This species gets their name from the early theory that there is one leader, a navigator that pilots the group with others continuing to follow even if it means certain death. Sadly, this species is more prone to mass stranding than almost any other cetacean species. Pilot whales are sensitive to noise disturbance, yet mass strandings are probably also in part because of their incredibly strong social bonds within groups. These lead to a behaviour called ‘standing by’ where group members will not be abandoned and the group stays together, even if one strands. So, to a degree there might be some truth to the theory that led to this species common name.
By Hannah Carstens
Sightings of the Day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Short-finned pilot whales
13:00 Short-finned pilot whales
Stenella
09:30 Short-finned pilot whales
13:30 Short-finned pilot whales
16:30 No sightings
