Whales and Dolphins
The Canary Islands is home to many species of whales and dolphins, and is also a favoured migration stop for many species. From the total 92 cetacean species found in the world, 31 have been observed in the Canaries in the last 30 years.
Furthermore, it is possible to encounter several species in a reduced marine area. The volcanic geology of the islands with sharp changes in depths, together with the geography that exposes the islands to oceanic cold currents, brings coastal and oceanic cetaceans together, as well as shallow and deep water species.
The Canary Islands have been called the fortunate islands since the Greek and Roman times, and at WWET we could not agree more!
Here below we would like to show you the cetaceans and other wildlife sighted by our research team around Tenerife´s waters.
RESIDENT ODONTOCETI (most expected to see in our tours)
short finned pilot whale
Globicephala macrorhynchus
bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
TRANSIENT ODONTOCETI
spotted dolphin
Stenella frontalis
common dolphin
Delphinus delphis
rough toothed dolphin
Steno bredanensis
striped dolphin
stenella coeruleoalba
risso´s dolphin
grampus griseus
false orca
pseudorca crassidens
orca
Orcinus orca
sperm whale
Physeter macrocephalus
pygmy sperm whale
Kogia breviceps
blainville´s beaked whale
Mesoplodon densirostris
bottlenose whale
Hyperoodon ampullatus
MYSTICETI
bryde´s whale
Balaenoptera edeni
fin whale
Balaenoptera physalus
sei whale
Balaenoptera borealis
humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus
OTHER WILDLIFE
loggerhead sea Turtle
Caretta caretta
osprey or sea hawk
Pandion haliaetus
scopoli´s shearwater
Calonectris diomedea
flying fish
Exocoetidae family
For a fuller description of cetacean species of the world, please go to: Whaleopedia to find an excellent educational work created by Animal Fund.
Copyright: Illustrations are a kind gesture and courtesy of Larry and Mary Foster.
Some pictures are courtesy of Bob Pitman, Birgit Wining / EarthViews Productions.
(Please note that their pictures were selected for a better visual of the animals, and were not taken in Tenerife)
Special thanks to Stanley M. Minasian from Animal Fund for all his kindness and help.
Some pictures are courtesy of Bob Pitman, Birgit Wining / EarthViews Productions.
(Please note that their pictures were selected for a better visual of the animals, and were not taken in Tenerife)
Special thanks to Stanley M. Minasian from Animal Fund for all his kindness and help.
