Introduction - In this post we'll be describing the cetaceans found around Scotland. Cetacean is a term given to whales, dolphins and porpoises in the Mammalian taxonomic order Cetacea, a Greek word meaning 'sea monsters'. We have about twenty three species that have been recorded in Britain as a whole, with some being resident, some seasonal and others that are only rarely recorded.
Harbour Porpoise (Phoecona Phoecona) -(Regular)
The smallest of our marine mammals and one of the shyest. They only grow to about one-and-a-half metres to two metres maximum and can live in shallow and deep waters, especially in fjords and large inlets. There they can dive for about fifteen to twenty minutes in search of fish and squid. When they surface, they blow only softly and when diving back down again, they do so with a rolling ‘wheel’ motion. Their fins are shorter and stubbier than those of dolphins and their faces are blunt, as in they have no beak like most dolphins.
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) - (Regular)
One of our most regular cetaceans, especially in the Moray Firth. The Moray Firth in the northeast of Scotland is home to the world’s largest Bottlenose Dolphins which can grow up to four metres long and have thicker blubber to cope with the colder waters. In the West Coast of Scotland there is a separate population that are smaller, growing to about two and a half metres and roam most of the west coasts of Scotland, England and Wales.
Minke Whale (Balaenoptera Acutorostrata) - (Regular)
Our smallest and most regular baleen whale species growing to about seven to nine metres. They are found in the Moray Firth and are especially common in the west coast in the summer months when they arrive to feed on the dense schools of fish such as herring. They typically surface with their backs visible and a small fin placed two thirds along the back. They do sometimes engage in breaching behaviour, that is, jumping fully out of the water, but do it less often that some other whale species.
Common Dolphin (Delphinus Delphis) - (Regular)
One of the commonest cetaceans in the west coast of Scotland. They can be seen in the Moray Firth from time to time but less regularly. These dolphins grow to about two-and-a-half metres and have distinctive yellow blazes along their flanks and their skin is browner than that of the Bottlenose Dolphin. They are also far more acrobatic and will commonly bow-ride boats.
Risso's Dolphin (Grampus Griseus) - (Regular)
One of the largest dolphins growing to about four metres and can most often be seen in the north and west of Scotland. They have thick bulbous heads and white marks along their skin that are caused by them raking their teeth against each other whenever they are socialising or fighting, or by the raking of squid tentacles, as they try to swallow their prey.
White Beaked Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus Albirostris) - (Regular)
A small oceanic dolphin species, growing to just over three metres. They are found mainly on the north and west coasts of Scotland and are known for their dark grey bodies with white streaking across them. Contrary to its name these dolphins don’t always have white beaks, some have dark ones.
Orca (Killer Whale) (Orcinus Orca) - (Regular)
The world’s largest dolphin, growing to about 10 metres, easily identified by their black and white bodies with distinctive white eye patches. Males have tall dorsal fins that can be two metres tall, the females have smaller curved dorsal fins. They typically have a slow, even surfacing pattern and the blow is tall and wide. There are two Orca populations in Britain, one of them is known as the West Coast Community, which is believed to be down to its last few members and is on the verge of extinction. The other population consists of Icelandic Orcas that come from Iceland where they normally eat fish, to eat the seals found in Scotland. It is one of the few populations in the world known to switch to a different diet depending on where they go.
Atlantic White Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus Acutus) - (Rare, regular)
A small oceanic dolphin species, growing to just under three metres. They are found mainly in the north and west coasts of Scotland. They are characterised by their dark grey and light grey panels on the body, with white stripes and distinctive yellow blazes on their tails. Although common in offshore waters, they only seasonally come inshore and are thus one of the most unpredictable dolphin species to be seen in Scottish waters.
Humpback Whale (Megaptera Novaeangliae) - (Rare, but regular)
A large baleen whale species that can grow to 15 metres long. They are distinctive whales with a small hump on the back and long pectoral fins that can reach five metres long. They breed in tropical waters and migrate to northern waters in search of richer feeding opportunities. They can lunge feed and are well known for leaping clear of the water. They were more widespread in the 18th and 19th Centuries before whaling reduced their numbers, of which they are making a small comeback, with regular sightings every year particularly in the west and north coasts of Scotland.
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera Physalus) - (Rare)
The second largest animal on Earth after the Blue Whale and a baleen whale. These giants can grow to 18 ½ to 20 metres, with some reaching 24. Though difficult to see when surfacing, they have a white lower jaw that contrasts with its grey upper. These were formerly more widespread in Britain in the 18th and 19th Centuries before whaling reduced their numbers, though they are still regularly seen in small numbers every year, mainly in the north and west coasts of Scotland, with larger numbers in Ireland.
Long Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala Melas) - (Rare)
A large member of the dolphin family, growing from six to just over seven-and-a-half metres long. It is black with a large curved dorsal fin, but the namesake feature comes from their pectoral fins which are long and tapered, which distinguish it from its southern relative, the Short-finned Pilot Whale. Usually a deep-water species, they can live together in mass pods of at least fifty and have periodically been known to mass strand.
Sperm Whale (Physeter Macrocephalus) - (Rare)
The world’s largest toothed whale, growing to at least 15 metres, and one that does appear in small numbers in Britain every year mainly in the north and west. They have a large bulbous head that makes up around a third of the animal’s length, a long slender jaw, long wrinkly folds on the skin and a low hump on the back. They can dive to depths of well over a thousand metres in search of squid and are capable of hunting both the Giant Squid and Colossal Squid, the latter in Antarctic waters which they find using their echolocation.
Sei Whale (Balaenoptera Borealis) - (Rare)
A large baleen whale species, growing to at least 12 metres, the second smallest baleen whale in British waters after the Minke Whale. They are a difficult species to distinguish from Minke and Fin Whales but are usually dark skinned and have a sickle shaped fin two thirds along the back. This is another species that was more widespread in the 18th and 19th Centuries before whaling reduced their numbers, though they were said to be a difficult species to catch because of how fast they were.
Other Rarer Species only rarely recorded - Northern Bottlenose Whale, Blue Whale, Beluga Whale, Striped Dolphin, Pygmy Sperm Whale and seven records of Narwhal of which Britain as a whole has had no further verified sightings since 1949.
If you would like a chance to see a few of our more regular cetacean species you might like to book a coastal Guide Day Out.
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