Dazzling Dolphin Diversity
With more than 30+ species worldwide, the Delphinidae form the largest family of cetaceans. Oceanic dolphins are social and incredibly acrobatic beings. They are represented by a dazzling variety of shapes, sizes and behaviours. In the Azores, at least four species make use of the region all year long: the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), the "quintessential" bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), the Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), and the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). Occasionally, we encounter orcas (Orcinus orca) and false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) - the equivalent of winning the Azorean "dolphin lottery". Other dolphin species do not occupy the Azores archipelago year-round. The Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis), for example, is a much beloved summer guest. Fun is in the air when spotties are around! Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are also most frequently observed in the summer months.
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