09.11.2023 – Rounded heads

This morning our guests were able to observe four different species of marine mammals. Three of these four species had very similar external characteristics, namely a rounded head with little or minimal beak attachment.

First we had a small school of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) next to the boat. A few times they sought to be close to us. We then went to see the Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), which floated resting on the surface while two calves socialized with each other. The next sighting was Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), which we only see here now and then. Our trip finally led us to a very, very rare visitor to our waters. At first it was not entirely clear whether it was a Melon headed dolphin (Peponocephala electra) or a Pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata). But we assume that it was the latter. It was just an animal racing through the waves.

Genetic studies categorize the Melon headed dolphin as a sister species to the Pygmy killer whale. These two very similar species are considered a sister taxon to the two species of Pilot whales (Globicephala). Which, together with the Little killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) and the Risso’s dolphin, form the subfamily Globicephalinae within the dolphins.

In the afternoon we went to see active Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), who were at their best, and our guests briefly saw Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), which is the deepest diver of marine mammals.

You will find our Petitions under this link: https://www.lobosonda.com/whale-watching/marine-protection/

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilotwales, Risso dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilotwales, Risso dolphins, Pygmy killer whale

15:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Cuvier beaked whales