BEHAVIOUR CODE

Do not feed the animals,do not throw anything to the sea.
Do not shout nor touch the animals
We will approach the animals with caution and respect  without disturbing them.
We ask parents/tutors/teachers to continously look after the children under their liability.
Please use camera without flash.
As soon as we notice any behavioural sign of disturbance we will leave the area where the animals are.
PLEASE DO ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE CREW AND OF THE INSTRUCTORS

CETACEA IN THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (tursiops truncatus)

Lenght: 2 to 4 m.
Weight: from 200 to 500 Kg.
Prey species: fish, bivalves, shrimp and squid.

Odontocete dolphinids of grey colour frequentely hold in dolphinaria. They can reach speeds of approximately 20 mph, are very adaptive and intelligent .The have a language based on a large range of whistles . They travel in small groups of tens of individuals.

COMMON DOLPHIN (delphinus delphis)
Lenght: from 1,5 to 2,5 m.
Weight: up to 100 Kg.
Prey species: small fish.

This species occupies the place of honour of the delphinids. The travel in very large groups where it is difficult to distinguis between females and males. They breed during the end of spring and beginning of the summer.

STRIPED DOLPHIN (stenella coeruleoalba)
Lenght: 1,5 to  2,5 metres.
Weight: up to 120 Kg.
Prey species: small fish and molluscs.

With similar characteristics as the common dolphin, they present a striped on the lateral part of the body which forms a Vin the flanc. This dolphin can reach high speeds up to 30 mph. They are very common in the Mediterranean Sea.

LONG-FINNED PILOT WHALE (globicephala melas)
Length: up to  6 metres.
Weight: 3 tons.
Prey species: cephalopods and fish.

They are distributed in all the temperate and warm waters of the world. It can easily be distinguished from the other species by its rounded form and the large size of its head. They have a matrilineal social structure.

SPERM WHALE (Physeter macrocephalus)
Lenght: from 7-13 m. for females to 14-18 m. for males.
Weight: 25/35 Tons.
Prey species: cephalópods and elasmobranchs fish(rays, sharks,etc..)

Despite its appearance it belongs to the group of the odontocetes being its largest representative. They can frequentely be found in the Strait during spring.

ORCA (Orcinus orca)
Lenght: 6 to 10 m. males being larger than females.
Weight:from 4 to 8 m.
Prey species: large fish (tuna, herring,salmon...), others dolphinids, pinnipeds ,etc...

It is a marine superpredator. They are the most cosmopolitan cetacean species. They hunt in groups of several individuals. Their breeding seasons is during the winter and their gestation lasts for 12 months. They come to the Strait looking for big tuna.

FIN WHALE (Balaenoptera physalus)
Lenght: 18 to 22 mts.
Weight: 40/60 tons.
Prey species: crustaceans, fish, cephalopods and plankton.

Misticete cetacean (no teeth) from the same family as the blue whale, it can be found in all seas. The blow can be observed from a great distance. They tend to pass the Strait individually or in small groups. When feeling treatened, they do long immersions.