Wildlife

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 whale1
short finned pilot whale

Globicephala macrorhynchus

bottlenose dolphin 3
bottlenose dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

TRANSIENT ODONTOCETI
MYSTICETI
OTHER WILDLIFE
loggerhead sea Turtle

Caretta caretta

Osprey or Sea hawk
osprey or sea hawk

Pandion haliaetus

Scopoli´s shearwater
scopoli´s shearwater

Calonectris diomedea

z flying fish
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.