27.06.2024 – Crystal Clear

The roughly 1500 m of depth that one may encounter during a whale-watching trip with lobosonda may make some people’s heads spin. If you take time to stare into the deep blue abyss, however, some wonderful things may pop out. The low algal growth in madeiran waters allows us to admire not only the cetaceans (which today included Bottlenose, Common, and Spotted Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, Delphinus delphis, and Stenella frontalis)) but also other ocean dwellers. Today, two tours saw two special guests appear in the crystal clear. Both of which have complicated relationships with dolphins. Firstly, Mahi-Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), also known as the Dolphin Fish or Dorado, is a classic prey item often ending up between dolphin jaws. Interestingly, the Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna sp.), despite being fellow predators and far up the marine food chain, is not immune to some dolphins favourite game bullying the shark. It just shows there is a fascinating world out there, and if we were to look exclusively at cetaceans, we would miss so much!

By Peter Worth

Sightings of the Day 

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Hammerhead shark

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins

16:00 Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Mahi-Mahi