21.06.2024 – Unsuccessful escape into the air

The adaptations of our oceans inhabitants to their environment are quite marvellous, don’t you think? And don’t get me started to marvel about whales’ and dolphins’ adaptations (…not yet). Today I want to address to other ocean creatures that we often see around our waters in Madeira. Often enough to get a spot on our “most regulary seen”-list in the sightings pass which our guests receive after the trip. I am talking about the Atlantic flying fish (Cheilopogon melanurus). It sounds like a fairy tale, but these small fish have adapted to leap out of the water when threatened and glide dozens of meters through the air with help of their long pectoral fins which remind of aircraft wings. Beating their strong tails back and forth provides the propulsive force, and their strong, rigid body helps to maintain longer in the air. A perfect solution to escape their predators as tuna, swordfish, and as in the case of our morning tour – Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). We encountered these small, extremely acrobatic and curious dolphins during all our tours today, and in the morning during a feeding frenzy on flying fish. It seems there was only one factor the flying fish didn’t take into consideration – our charismatic seabirds, the Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis), which also wanted to share of this meal. Being attacked from both sides, the flying fish had nowhere else to go. As often, wilderness unites wonder and tragedy – our guide Peter even managed to photograph a flying fish being stuck in a shearwaters throat, with its wings spanned wide open!

By Sarah Kather

Sightings of the day

Click on each sighting to access the photo gallery of the correspondent trip

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

16:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins