Fin whale
Scientific Name: Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758). Common Name: Fin whale. Classification: Mysticeti (baleen whales), family Balaenopteridae. Physical notes: Is the second longest animal on the planet, after the blue whale, can measure up to 27m and weight up to 120t, they have a long elongated body, a pointed head and a prominent, ‘swept-back’ dorsal…
Risso’s dolphin
Scientific Name: Grampus griseus (Cuvier, 1812). Common Name: Risso’s dolphin. Classification: Odontoceti, family Delphinidae. Physical notes: Up to 4 m and 500 kg. Heavily scarred body with a blunt, rounded forehead and no beak. Uniform dark grey to patchy grey-and-white as they get older. Distribution and habitat use: Tropical to temperate waters in both…
Minke whale
Scientific Name: Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Lacépède, 1804). Common Name: Minke whale. Classification: Mysticeti (baleen whales), family Balaenopteridae. Physical notes: Up to 10m and 9.2t, they have an elongated body, a pointed head and a high, curved dorsal fin. The upper body is dark grey, with a softer, lighter pattern on the flanks, which fades to…
Harbour porpoise
Scientific Name: Phocoena phocoena (Linnaeus, 1758). Common Name: Harbour porpoise. Classification: Odontoceti, family Phoeconidae. Physical notes: Up to 2 m and 70 kg with robust bodies and rounded head. It is easily distinguished by its triangular fin and brownish pattern. Distribution and habitat use: Found in cold temperate to sub-polar waters of the Northern…
Common dolphin
Scientific Name: Delphinus delphis (Linnaeus, 1758). Common Name: Common dolphin. Classification: Odontoceti, family Delphinidae. Physical notes: Up to 2.5 m and 200 kg with characteristic tan to pale yellow patches on the sides. Distribution and habitat use: Tropical to temperate waters worldwide. Primarily coastal species but can be also found in shelf, and oceanic…
Bottlenose dolphin
Scientific Name: Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821) Common Name: Common bottlenose dolphin. Classification: Odontoceti (toothed whales), family Delphinidae Physical notes: Up to 4 m and 650 kg, with robust bodies, mostly grey in coloration, and with short, stubby beak. Offshore ecotypes are usually bigger and darker in colouration compared to inshore sub-populations. Distribution and habitat use:…