01.05.2026 – Some fun facts about whales
May 8, 2026
Today was a Dolphin Bonanza, with four different species encountered during the day – one group was even lucky enough to see them all!
Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) were the least frequently seen species in Madeira that day. They are found in temperate and tropical offshore waters and mainly feed on squid and octopus. This species dives to depths of up to 1,000 m to reach its prey. They have the fewest teeth among dolphin species – members of the toothed whale suborder – with 4-14 teeth in the lower jaw. However, these few teeth are responsible for their very distinctive appearance.
Through social interactions, they scar one another. These scars remain white because the skin in those areas does not re-pigment, leading to a gradual change in coloration over time. Scars can also result from encounters with prey. Born dark and without scars, individuals gradually lighten from dark grey or brown to pale grey, or even nearly white as they age. This makes individuals relatively easy to identify in the field.
They prefer steep continental slope habitats, often found around islands, submarine canyons, and continental shelves. They are still relatively understudied; therefore, there are no precise global population estimates. They occur in all major oceans as well as the Mediterranean Sea, ranging from about 64° North to 46° South.
We also had a very special sighting of a Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), almost wiped out in the early 20th century in Madeira. Today there are only 40–60 individuals, mainly found around the Desertas Islands Nature Reserve. With 600–700 individuals left globally, they are the third-rarest marine mammal, after the vaquita (Phocoena sinus) and the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis).
By Eva Köhle
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Whale, Striped Dolphin
13:00 Fin Whale, Bottlenose Dolphin, Loggerhead Turtle
Stenella
09:30 Whale, Short-beaked Common Dolphin, Striped Dolphin, Monk Seal
13:30 Fin Whale, Bottlenose Dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, Short-beaked Common Dolphin, Striped Dolphins, Loggerhead Turtle
13:30 Fin Whale, Risso’s dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin
