24.11.2025 – An interspecific affair

Madeira’s waters are deep and teeming with prey for hungry predators, particularly those who prefer areas where deep sea squid is on the menu. Apart from finding a cadaver of one of these nutritious deep sea dwellers at the surface this morning, our team also managed sightings with two of its most voracious predators today; the Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and the Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus).

The two share a lot more than their prey preference. Both species inhabit a so-called home range that includes Madeira and the Canary Islands and are considered extremely important predators for their habitat. What they do not share is their social structure. While Bottlenose exist in smaller, loosely structured units, pilot whales move in stable family groups where all females care for the young.

Despite these difference, it isn’t rare to see both species in the same area or even experience them interacting with one another and, although this has been widely observed across their home range, the reasons for such observations are not quite clear. The classic “biologist approach” is to relate it to their prey, that one or both seem to get hunting advantages through the interaction. Other theories include the Bottlenose seeking protection or opportunities to elevate their social lives near the pilot whales…but in reality we have no idea why they interact, at least for now. In the meantime, our team is happy to share these lovely encounters with our guests.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

13:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales