Wildlife Trips to See Dolphins in Falmouth, Cornwall: Get up close with a dolphin spotting trip on our new boat

Appearance:

The common dolphin is a small to medium-sized cetacean, with a streamlined body and a distinct hourglass pattern on its side. They have a long, slender beak and a curved dorsal fin that is located in the center of their back. They are typically about 1.7 to 2.4 meters in length and can weigh up to 200 kg.

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Range and Habitat:

Common dolphins are found in tropical and warm temperate waters around the world, including in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They prefer offshore waters, but can also be found in coastal areas, estuaries, and bays. 

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Conservation status:

The common dolphin is considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, they are still vulnerable to threats such as pollution, habitat loss, and entanglement in fishing gear.

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Diet:

Common dolphins feed on a variety of prey, including fish, squid, and crustaceans. They are active hunters and use echolocation to locate their prey.

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Behaviour:

Common dolphins are highly social animals and are often found in large groups, or pods, that can number in the hundreds or even thousands. They are known for their acrobatic displays, which include leaping out of the water, somersaulting, and riding the bow wave of boats. They are also known for their fast swimming speeds, which can reach up to 60 km/h.

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Fun fact:

Common dolphins are one of the most widespread and abundant dolphin species in the world, with an estimated global population of several million individuals. They are also known to form mixed-species groups with other dolphin species, such as bottlenose dolphins.

Appearance:

The bottlenose dolphin is a medium-sized cetacean with a stocky body and a short, stubby beak. They have a curved dorsal fin and a dark grey or black coloration on their back, fading to a lighter shade on their belly. They can grow up to 4 meters in length and weigh up to 650 kg.

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Range and Habitat:

Bottlenose dolphins are found in temperate and tropical waters around the world, including in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They are highly adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats, including coastal waters, estuaries, and offshore areas.

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Conservation status:

The bottlenose dolphin is considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), although certain populations may face threats from pollution, habitat loss, and entanglement in fishing gear.

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Diet:

Bottlenose dolphins feed on a variety of prey, including fish, squid, and crustaceans. They are active hunters and use echolocation to locate their prey.

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Behaviour:

Bottlenose dolphins are highly social animals and are often found in groups, or pods, of up to several hundred individuals. They are known for their acrobatic displays, which include leaping out of the water, somersaulting, and tail slapping. They are also known for their intelligence, communication skills, and ability to use tools.

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Fun fact:

Bottlenose dolphins are one of the most well-known and beloved dolphin species in the world, in part due to their frequent appearances in popular culture and television shows such as "Flipper." They are also highly adaptable and have been observed using tools, such as using sponges to protect their noses while foraging in sandy areas.

Appearance:

The Risso's dolphin is a large, robust dolphin with a blunt head and no beak. They have a tall, sickle-shaped dorsal fin and a white or light-colored scarred body due to interactions with other Risso's dolphins. They can grow up to 4 meters in length and weigh up to 500 kg.

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Range and Habitat:

Risso's dolphins are found in temperate and tropical waters around the world, including in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They prefer deep offshore waters, but can also be found near the coast.

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Conservation status:

The Risso's dolphin is considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), although certain populations may face threats from pollution, habitat loss, and entanglement in fishing gear.

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Diet:

Risso's dolphins feed primarily on squid, but will also eat fish and crustaceans.

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Behaviour:

Risso's dolphins are relatively slow swimmers and are known for their distinctive head-first dives. They are often seen in groups of 10-30 individuals, but larger groups of up to several hundred have been reported. They are also known for their vocalizations, which include clicks, whistles, and pulsed calls.

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Fun fact:

Risso's dolphins are named after Antoine Risso, a French naturalist who first described the species in the early 19th century. Despite their relatively large size, little is known about their behavior and ecology due to their offshore habitat and cryptic behavior.

Appearance:

Harbour porpoises are small, compact cetaceans with rounded head and blunt snout. They have a dark grey or black back and a lighter grey or white belly. Adults typically range in length from 1.4 to 1.9 meters and weigh between 45 to 70 kg.

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Range and Habitat:

Harbour porpoises are found in the coastal waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, from Norway and Greenland to Japan and California.

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Conservation status:

Harbour porpoises are listed as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, some populations are threatened by bycatch in fisheries, pollution, habitat loss, and noise pollution from shipping and other human activities.

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Diet:

Harbour porpoises primarily feed on small fish such as herring, cod, and sand eels. They use echolocation to locate prey.

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Behaviour:

Harbour porpoises are typically solitary or found in small groups of up to 10 individuals. They are active swimmers, capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 km/h. They are also deep divers, capable of reaching depths of up to 200 meters.

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Fun fact:

Did you know that harbour porpoises are the smallest cetaceans found in UK waters? Despite their petite size, these charismatic creatures can reach speeds of up to 18 miles per hour (29 kilometers per hour) as they gracefully navigate through the Cornish waves. Keep an eye out for these swift and playful porpoises during your wildlife adventures in Cornwall's coastal waters!

Appearance:

White-beaked dolphins have a stocky body and a short, broad beak that is white on the tip and sides. They have a dark grey or black back and a lighter grey or white belly. Adults typically range in length from 2.5 to 3.5 meters and weigh between 200 to 400 kg.

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Range and Habitat:

White-beaked dolphins are found in the coastal waters of the North Atlantic, from the eastern coast of Canada and the United States to Greenland, Iceland, and northern Europe.

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Conservation status:

White-beaked dolphins are listed as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, some populations are threatened by bycatch in fisheries, pollution, habitat loss, and noise pollution from shipping and other human activities.

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Diet:

White-beaked dolphins primarily feed on fish, such as cod, herring, and sand eels, but they also eat squid and crustaceans. They use echolocation to locate prey.

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Behavior:

White-beaked dolphins are social animals and are often found in groups of 10 to 30 individuals, but they can form larger groups of up to 100. They are active swimmers, capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 km/h. They are also deep divers, capable of reaching depths of up to 200 meters.

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Fun fact:

White-beaked dolphins are known for their acrobatic behavior, often leaping out of the water and performing flips and spins. They are also known for their vocalizations, which include clicks, whistles, and buzzes.