23.09.2026 – My, what big eyes you have!
October 1, 2026
Two species known for their incredible ability to dive deep were seen today : Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). Beaked whales are a diverse group, comprising 23 different species. From their lifestyle, they are difficult to study and to get precise population estimates. They remain very mysterious and elusive as most of them are shy to boats and are rarely seen close to the shore. It makes these observations even more special !
Beaked whales constitute 1/4 of all existing cetacean species, making them the second-largest cetacean family after the delphinids. In between surfacing, they live in the deep layers of the ocean : the mesopelagic zone (200 to 1000m) and the bathypelagic zone (1000 to 4000m). Indeed, the record depth recorded was 2,992 meters by the Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris)! These animals rely on a masterful suite of evolutionary adaptations. When descending hundreds of meters into the bathypelagic zone, their bodies undergo radical transformations to manage crushing pressure, zero oxygen, and the risk of decompression sickness.
By Juliette Colançon
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Bottlenose dolphins
13:00 Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins
Steno
09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Sperm whale
13:30 Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins
