23.07.2025 – Remoras

Today’s species included Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), Bottlenose  dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), as well as a Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in the morning. The second trips were especially noteworthy and quite adventurous for both boats as we headed west into strong winds to see the animals.

When checking the photos of the bottlenose after one trip, we discovered one acrobatic dolphin showing of some Remoras attached to its underside. Remoras are also known as suckerfish or diskfish because they have a flat, oval-shaped suction disc on the top of their head to stick onto cetaceans, sharks, sea turtles, ships and sometimes even  human divers. Remoras are capable of free-swimming but gain a number of benefits from attaching to cetaceans: They hitch a free ride, are protected from predators, have a meeting place for mating and have a constant flow of water over their gills. Cetaceans tend to tolerate Remoras as they are normally not hurt by them. However, they can leave behind temporary marks, cause hydrodynamic drag or irritate the dolphins. Some dolphin species have been observed getting rid of Remoras by biting them off or leaping and spinning to dislodge them from uncomfortable places.

By Hannah Carstens

Sightings of the Day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Loggerhead sea turtle

13:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins