14.02.2022 – Dolphin diversity

Everyone smiles when they see dolphins, the reaction is almost completely inevitable! Most people, however, are not aware of the incredible diversity in the dolphin family with incredible variation in the life cycles, social lives and appearance of the different species.

We got a taste of this wonderful diversity during todays afternoon tour aboard the Stenella. Our tour began and ended with different groups of beautiful Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). The species sees its highest abundance during the winter season in Madeira and can often be observed hunting schools of Halfbeaks (Belone belone) at this time of year. While the first group displayed a more evasive behaviour, the other group we encountered towards the end of the trip immediately approached us when we arrived in the sightings area. In between their eager bow-rides the animals engaged in their famous Halfbeak hunts in the company of a handful of hungry Yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis).

The second species we encountered was the Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), an enormous gentle dolphin that has become one of madeiras emblematic species. The large family pod was resting calmly at the surface in their usual passive manner. However, not all animals were indifferent to our presence: a few curious individuals spy-hopped to glance at their admirers at the surface, demonstrating their incredible size as they did.

Following the pilot whales came the species whose image fills most peoples mind when we think of dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) don’t only enjoy a distribution which practically stretches across all coastal areas inhabited by man on our planet, their charisma and adaptability has also made them the cetacean most frequently kept in captivity. The sad statistic definitely hits home when experiencing them in their element out in the open ocean, where they socialise with whom they please and travel up to 100km per day on average.

This diverse lineup of dolphins was further sweetened by a sighting of a basking Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and a few Portuguese Man O’Wars (Physalis physalis). What a marvellous day!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Stenella

15:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales