Marine fauna of the Strait

The Strait of Gibraltar is a unique natural channel linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It has a complex system of currents that bring many nutrients from the bottom to the surface.
This is the main consequence of the great biodiversity of cetaceans that inhabit this area.

Bottlenose Dolphins

(Tursiops truncatus)

Species Resident

Large size (up to 4 m). They vary greatly in shape, size and colour depending on the geographical region. Uniform greyish colouring. They are curious and active. They make great leaps. They may group with other species, such as pilot whales.
They feed on fish and cephalopods

PROBABILITY OF SIGHTING

HIGH PROBABILITY: All year round

Common Dolphins

(Delphinus delphis)

Species Resident

Small size (1.7-2.4 m), with a yellowish spot on both flanks in the shape of an hourglass. They usually have an active behaviour and perform jumps. They are fast swimmers (40 km/h), and may form groups of 20-30 individuals. They feed on fish, squid and some crustaceans.

PROBABILITY OF SIGHTING

HIGH PROBABILITY: All year round

Striped Dolphin

(Stenella coeruleoalba)

Species Resident

Small size (2.1-2.6 m), with a dark coloured stripe on the dorsal part of the body. They form large groups, and move actively (fast swimmers), making jumps. They often group with common dolphins.

They feed on fish, squid and some crustaceans.

PROBABILITY OF SIGHTING

HIGH PROBABILITY: All year round

Pilot whale

(Globicephala melas)

Species Resident

Adult males can reach up to 6 metres in length. Very rounded head. Dark colouring, black in adults. Gregarious species that forms matrilineal family groups.
They feed on fish and cephalopods

PROBABILITY OF SIGHTING

HIGH PROBABILITY: All year round

Sperm Whale

(Physeter macrocephalus)

Semi-resident species

They have teeth only in the lower jaw. Large size with sexual dimorphism: males up to 18 metres and females 12 metres.
They can dive for up to 2 hours. Surface intervals are usually between 10 and 15 minutes, where they remain practically motionless.
They feed on deep-water squid.

PROBABILITY OF SIGHTING

HIGH PROBABILITY: March, April, May, June, June, September, October and November

LOW PROBABILITY: July and August

Killer Whale

(Orcinus orca)

Semi-resident species

Larger delphinid (5.5-9.8 m). Colour black and white, with white eye spot. Sexual dimorphism, males with very tall dorsal fin (up to 1.8 m). Forman grupos familiares muy estrechos (pods). They form very tight family groups (pods). Curious and fast-swimming.
They feed on bluefin tuna.

PROBABILITY OF SIGHTING

HIGH PROBABILITY: July and August

LOW PROBABILITY: March, April, May, June and September

Rorqual whale

(Balaenoptera physalus)

Migratory species

Second largest animal on the planet (up to 22 m). Right jaw white, left jaw black. Sexual dimorphism: females are 10% larger than males. They can navigate at high speeds (up to 35 km/h). They do not usually avoid boats, but do not approach them either.

They feed on krill, copepods and small fish.

PROBABILITY OF SIGHTING

HIGH PROBABILITY: June, July and August

LOW PROBABILITY: September

Photo gallery

All the photographs in our gallery have been taken in a respectful and responsible way from our boats, either by our team or by professional photographers.

Sperm whales

Pilot whales

Killer Whales

Common Dolphins

Striped Dolphins

Mular Dolphin

Fin whales

Other Strait Species

On our trips we not only observe and learn about cetaceans, we also have the unique opportunity to enjoy other migratory and resident species of birds, fish and turtles.

Loggerhead Turtle

They can measure up to 2 metres and weigh up to 120 kilos. They are the smallest and most abundant turtles in the Mediterranean. They sail alone and are migratory. When the water temperature drops, they head towards warmer waters. They move with the help of marine currents. They are omnivorous (bivalves, gastropods, crustaceans, fish, jellyfish, corals, etc.).

Balearic Shearwater

Of medium size, small head, fine greyish bill. Upperpart chocolate-brown, belly and underwing cream-coloured. Fast flapping flight interspersed with short glides. Usually very close to the sea. They are endemic to the Balearic Islands, and only breed in this archipelago. They feed on small fish and cephalopods.

Cinderella Shearwater

They are large seabirds and the largest of the shearwaters present in Europe. The upperpart is greyish in colour, contrasting with the white underpart. Characteristic flight in which long gliding sequences are interspersed with a few flapping movements. Pelagic and migratory species, they only visit the coast for breeding. They feed on small fish, crustaceans and cephalopods.

Flying Fish

Females can measure up to 25 cm and males up to 32 cm. They use their large pectoral fins to glide out of the water, reaching distances up to 400 metres. This is the result of an adaptation to escape predators such as tuna or dolphins.
They feed on plankton.

Bluefin tuna

It is the largest tuna, which can reach a length of 2 to 3 metres and weigh up to 400 kg. Younger individuals live in large groups, while adults (over 30 kg) form smaller groups. It is possible to observe them at the surface while hunting small fish, as they corral their prey close to the surface and jump out of the water to catch them. They feed on small fish.

Ocean Sunfish

They are the largest bony fish in the world, which can measure up to 2.7 m and weigh up to 2 tonnes Pelagic species, solitary and calm. In the water column, they inhabit from the surface to a depth of 480 metres. On the surface, they are often seen basking in the sun (to warm up), even jumping out of the water (to get rid of parasites). They feed on jellyfish, crustaceans, cephalopods, small fish and zooplankton.