IDENTIFYING SPECIES
One of the best parts of wildlife watching, is knowing what you're watching. Especially when observing marine life, as your are more than likely watching from a distance, it will take a a bit of background knowledge to understand what it is you're looking at.
So when you're out watching marine life, use this quick and easy guide to make sure you're not impressing everyone with incorrect facts...
Marine Mammals
Differentiating allllll the cetaceans.
Bottle Nose Dolphins
Length; 4m
Distinguishable features;
-Stubby beak,
-Paler than common dolphin, often grey/brown tone,
-Often found jumping out of the water!
Common Dolphins
Length; 1.6-2.5m
Distinguishable features;
-Slim beak in comparison to bottlenose dolpin,
-Stark darker colour on top and lighter underside colour,
-Curved dosal fin.
Striped Dolphin
Length; Up to 2.6m
Distinguishable features;
-Stripe linking from the beak to the rear body,
-Found only in the western side of British waters.
Risso's Dolphins
Length; Up to 3.8m
Distinguishable features;
-Realllly round, stubby head,
-Darker areas= dorsal fin and tail,
-Dorsal fin is taller than other species,
-Light grey, with white belly, which means scars will be visible!
-No beak!!!
White Beaked Dolphin
Length; 2.5-2.8m
Distinguishable features;
-Darker than most species,
-Stubbier head than bottlenose dolphin,
-Pale underside,
-Found only on Atlantic coast of Britain.
Whales
Length; 1.5m
Distinguishable features;
-Smallest Cetacean in the world!
-Dorsal fin small and triangular,
-Round Head,
-Small flippers,
-White line on underside, that is perpendicular to eyes,
-Dark grey on upper side,
-Short beaked.
Length; 9m when fully grown
Distinguishable features;
-Dark grey, with white underside.
-Fin located much further back than any dolphin,
-Small side pectoral fins will confidently identify a Minke,
-Found alone or in small groups.
Length; Up to 24m
Distinguishable features;
-Very dark colouration,
-Dorsal fin very far back,
-Asymmetrically coloured jaw, white on the right side,
-Seen alone or in groups up to 7,
-When diving their tails do not rise above the water.
Harbour Porpoise
Minke Whale
Fin Whale
-Cat like in the face,
-Always found in harbours,
-Shorter snout than the grey seal,
-Nostrils close together, making V shape,
-Coat is grey and speckled,
-Found in smaller groups,
-Lays on side on land, holding tail in the air to look like a monkeys favourite snack.
-Most common (I know...ironic) seal,
-Darker than the actual common seal,
-Larger than common seal,
-Separated nostrils,
-Found in large colonies,
-Curious and not afraid (but only interact on their terms...)
Common Seals
Grey Seals
THE ROCKY SHORE SPECIES
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