Dolphins
These marine mammals make their spectacle in these waters of the Strait throughout the year, some showing their fins and their young shyly, while others striving to show those virtuous jumps.
It is a resident species of the Strait of Gibraltar. You can reach 2 meters in length and an average weight of 80 kilograms, being slightly larger than females. Its color pattern is dark in back and white on the belly while its sides has a yellowish color in the area close to the head.
Their diet consists mainly of fish and squid and are between 45 and 60 teeth in each jaw.
It is a species in the Strait of Gibraltar live in herds averaging 36 individuals getting itself to find groups of over one hundred individuals. They can live 25 to 30 years.
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) the Mediterranean Common Dolphin is endangered, its population has decreased by 50 % in the last 30 years, although global concern is less. This decrease is due to the reduction in their food, pollution, bycatch, gear and/or climate change.
Curiously, female common dolphin can attend the birth of dolphins and other child care daily.
Distribution in the Strait of Gibraltar
Its distribution in the Strait is dispersed, being closer to coast bottlenose dolphins. Also residing in the inner bay of Algeciras throughout the year.
It is a resident species in the Strait of Gibraltar. These dolphins measured 2.5 meters as adults, with an average weight of 100 kg, regardless whether male or female. They owe their name to their bluish gray and white lists features that we see on the side, the back is gray with blue hue, and the belly is white or pink.
Their diet is based on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. The mouth contains from 40 to 55 pairs of teeth in each jaw.
We can see them moving through the ocean forming herds of hundreds and even thousands of individuals. They have an average lifespan of 30 years.
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the Striped Dolphin is in a vulnerable position despite being the most abundant species in the Mediterranean, although not globally endanger their existence. Their main threats are habitat degradation due to the use of agricultural pesticides, water pollution and elantifouling (antifouling).
It is a highly active species and is moving at high speed accompanied by stunts.
Distribution in the Strait of Gibraltar
In the Strait of Gibraltar is very wide distribution, although less frequent as the center of the channel and are usually seen closer to the coast, both Moroccan and Spanish.
It is a resident species in the Strait of Gibraltar. They range in size from 2.5 meters to 4 meters and weight also varies from one population to another ranging between 200 and 650 kilograms. Color pattern reflects a camouflage technique, dark on the back and white on the belly blue.
The oral cavity has 18 to 26 pairs of teeth in each jaw, their diet consists of fish and cephalopods, and to capture their food can make dives of 2-3 minutes.
Because of its distribution around the world, is best known dolphin. Bottlenose dolphins travel in flocks, usually consisting of 15 to 25 copies, which are very useful when hunting.
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the bottlenose dolphin is in a vulnerable situation in the Mediterranean, as to be able to find both near the coast and offshore, threats from contaminated waters may be near from coast to be accidentally caught by nets at sea. However globally the situation is less worrisome.
The Bottlenose dolphins are very curious so you can see them at high speed surfing on the bow of the boat and making great leaps.
Distribution in the Strait of Gibraltar
The bottlenose dolphin is distributed mainly in the central area of the Strait of Gibraltar, coinciding with the deepest areas, some very close to the Andalusian coast and at the mouth of the Bay of Algeciras groups were identified. Sometimes quite large groups are observed in the Strait of Gibraltar penetration from the Mediterranean, heading west. It is quite common to locate in areas of upwelling of deeper waters where nutrients are abundant.
It is a resident species in the Strait of Gibraltar. Adult males can grow to 6.5 meters while females reach 4.5 meters. They can weigh more than 2 tons. We can also differentiate males and females through its dorsal fin, being larger and slightly arched at the tip males. The coloration of the common Calderon is dependent on the individual's age, younger specimens are light gray and jet black adults. In the ventral part have a very characteristic anchor -shaped patch of white color.
They have a sharp conical teeth and usually have 8 to 13 pairs of teeth. Their food consists mainly of squid, although they can also eat fish or shellfish.
The common Calderon are gregarious and are usually found in groups of 20-50 individuals and maintain a matrilineal social structure. Ie herds are composed of linear units composed of mothers and children.
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), both in the Mediterranean and worldwide, the data available are not sufficient to say that its existence is not endangered. Their main threats are pollution, fishing activities and noise produced by high-intensity naval sonar.
The whales have strong family ties to the point that when a Calderón falls sick the rest of the group tends to follow, this can lead to the stranding of several individuals at the same time from the same family.
Distribution in the Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is distributed in the central part, coinciding with the areas of greatest depth. Sometimes groups have been located in areas where the depth significantly, coinciding with areas of upwelling of deeper nutrient-rich water decreases.