21.12.2022 – Hide and seek

Today, the small group of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as well as a subgroup of Short-finned Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) played hide and seek with us. Unfortunately, our guests could only see both species for a short time and from a distance. Our spotter can do his best to find marine mammals. Our captain can do his best to approach the animals respectfully. But all this is no guarantee that the animals are interested in us. Of course, we like to show our guests the best side of our friends in the Blue Office, but unfortunately they were cautious today.

We spotted a Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis). It was the first this winter. Portuguese man o’ war are beautiful, very fascinating and also dangerous. Fascinating is the fact that it is not an animal, but different strains of polyps working together in symbiotic cooperation. Her translucent bluish purple pink shimmering “sail”, the air pocket that allows propulsion on the sea, is beautiful. And why dangerous? One should stay away from the tentacles, which can reach a length of 15 m when stretched out. On one centimeter of these bluish tentacles are positioned 1000 stinging cells, which become very painful when coming into contact with them.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Stenella

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales