Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)

martin — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 18:42:55 +0000

Short-finned Pilot Whale. Bottlenose dolphin: Also known as “Pilot Whale” or “Short-finned pilot whale”, it belongs to the dolphin family. It is a cetacean with teeth (odontocete) and its name of whale is due to its size: it can exceed 5 meters in length and weigh between 1 and 2 tons. It is the easiest specimen to find on a sighting trip in Tenerife.

Short-finned Pilot Whale

Globicephala macrorhynchus is a species of cetacean commonly known as the short-finned pilot whale. It is a member of the family Delphinidae and is found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world.

Pilot whales are large, robust dolphins that can grow to a length of 6 metres and weigh up to 3 tonnes. They have a dark grey body with a white spot on the pectoral region and a prominent, rounded head with a short, broad beak.

These dolphins are highly social and are typically found in groups that can be very large, with up to several hundred individuals. They are known for their acrobatic behaviour and are often seen leaping and spinning in the air.

Pilot whales feed mainly on squid and fish, and are very effective predators in the water. However, like many other cetacean species, they are threatened by bycatch, pollution and habitat disturbance.

In some places, pilot whales are hunted by humans for their meat and blubber, although this is becoming less common due to restrictions and regulations on whaling and dolphin hunting. Despite these efforts, the species is still considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

martin — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 18:32:39 +0000

Bottlenose dolphin: It is the best known species of dolphin and can be easily found just off the coast of Tenerife. Their average height is 2.7 meters for males and 2.5 for females, although the oldest ones exceed 3 meters. They live in groups of 10 to 30 specimens and have a dark gray color on the back that degrades towards the lower areas.

Bottlenose dolphin. More info…

Tursiops truncatus is a species of dolphin commonly known as the bottlenose dolphin. It is one of the best known and most widely distributed dolphins worldwide, and is found in all oceanic and coastal waters, as well as in some freshwater rivers and lakes.

Bottlenose dolphins are medium-sized dolphins that can reach a length of up to 3.8 metres and a weight of around 500 kilograms. They have a distinctive, rounded head with a short, broad beak. Their body is dark grey on top and lighter on the underside.

These dolphins are very social and are known to form large, stable groups of up to several hundred individuals. They are known for their intelligence and advanced cognitive abilities, and have been used in human training and therapy programmes.

Tursiops truncatus feeds mainly on fish and squid, and is a very effective predator in the water. However, like many other cetacean species, it is threatened by bycatch, pollution, habitat disturbance and hunting in some parts of the world.

Despite these threats, the species remains abundant and is considered of “Least Concern” according to the IUCN Red List.

Residents – WhiteTenerife

Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)