MARINE LIFE

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Thanks to its coastal habits, frequent presence in captivity, and television appearances, this has become one of the most well-known cetacean species.

Classification: Odontoceti, family Delphinidae

Resident species that can be observed throughout the year.

Average adult length: 4 m

Average adult weight: 650 kg

They are characteristically robust, with a dark grey back and a lighter underside. The species has a short, bottle-shaped beak and a rounded forehead. Offshore individuals tend to be larger and darker in colour than coastal/inshore ones.
1–5 minutes (longest recorded dive reached 13 minutes)
Cephalopods, fish, and crustaceans
40–50 years

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

It was the first dolphin species to be scientifically described. Known as one of the fastest cetaceans, it can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Classification: Odontoceti, family Delphinidae

Resident species that can be observed throughout the year.

Average adult length: 2.7 m

Average adult weight: 235 kg

They have a streamlined body marked by an hourglass-shaped pattern along the flanks. Their coloration combines shades of black, grey, white, and yellow, with a darker dorsal area and a lighter underside.
3 minutes (maximum recorded dive was 8 minutes) .
Small fish and squid
25–35 years

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

A highly acrobatic oceanic species. It displays a behavior known as “roto-tailing,” in which it leaps high and arches while spinning its tail in circles.

Classification: Odontoceti, family Delphinidae

Resident species that can be observed throughout the year.

Average adult length: 2.6 m

Average adult weight: 150 kg

The dorsal area is dark, contrasting with a light-colored belly, and a grey stripe runs along to the fin. They have a streamlined body marked with stripes of varying shades extending between the eyes and fins.
Unknown
Small fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans
50 years (maximum recorded: 58 years)

Grampus griseus

Grampus griseus

The coloration and prominence of scars increase with age, particularly in males, causing older individuals to appear predominantly white.

Classification: Odontoceti, family Delphinidae

Resident species in Sagres (the westernmost coastal area of Portugal); sightings in Faro are rare

Adult size: 3.8 m

Adult weight: 500 kg

This species is distinguished by a robust body, especially in the area anterior to the dorsal fin, and a bulbous, square-shaped head with an indistinct beak, setting it apart from other cetaceans. The skin coloration ranges from dark grey to light grey, often marked with streaks and white spots that reflect its life at sea.
Less than 10 minutes
Mainly squid
40–50 years

Killer Whale

Orcinus orca

Orcas represent the largest species within the family Delphinidae. They are cetaceans with distinct cultures, exhibiting communication systems with dialects specific to each family group and geographic region.

Classification: Odontoceti, family Delphinidae

Migratory animals that follow tuna routes; mostly observed in spring and summer.

Adult size: Male – 9.8 m; Female – 8.5 m .

Adult weight: 6.5 tones

Orcas are easily identifiable by their striking black-and-white coloration. This pattern functions as camouflage in the marine environment and shows slight variations among populations, reflecting the species’ internal diversity.
2–10 minutes
Fish, cephalopods, seabirds, and marine mammals
Male – 30 years (up to 60); Female – 50 years (up to 90)

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Atlantic spotted dolphins are distinguished by the unique pattern of spots that develop throughout their lives. While juveniles have few or no spots, adults display bodies covered in them. These markings reveal the animals’ age and maturity, and are useful for identifying and studying them in the wild.

Classification: Odontoceti, family Delphinidae

Sightings recorded only during the summer months.

- It has a robust body shape, with an elongated beak and a whitish tip. The dorsal coloration is dark grey, contrasting with the white ventral area. Adults are distinguished by their characteristic spotted pattern.
- Average adult length: 2.3 m
- Average adult weight: 140 kg
2–4 minutes
Fish and Squid
50+ (more than 50 years)

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Although the name suggests otherwise, its behavior resembles that of small dolphins more than that of orcas.

Classification: Odontoceti, família Delphinidae

Sighted in spring

- Adult size: Male – 6 m; Female – 5.1 m
- Adult weight: 2.2 tons
- The species exhibits a coloration ranging from dark grey to black, which can appear slightly lighter under bright light, and a long, slender body that highlights its streamlined form. It has a small, conical head with a minimally pronounced melon and no noticeable beak, distinguishing it from many other cetaceans.
4–18 minutes
Big Fishes and squid
60–80 years

Pilot Whale

Globicephala macrorhynchus

They are highly social and remarkably intelligent animals. Their complex social structure is reflected in their vocal communication — a crucial skill for navigating and cooperating during deep-water hunts. Pilot whales specialize in hunting squid, using echolocation to locate their prey, which showcases their sophisticated hunting strategies and strong social bonds within the group.

Classification: Odontoceti, family Delphinidae

The sightings are rare in Faro, though they occasionally occur in late spring and early summer.

- Adult length: 7.3 m
- Adult weight: 3.5 tonnes
- These dolphins are easily recognized by their rounded, melon-shaped head and lack of a distinct beak. Their body is sturdy and streamlined, with shades ranging from dark grey to bluish-black. A lighter patch is often visible on the chest. They have short, narrow fins, and a dorsal fin that is broad at the base, curved backward, and positioned relatively close to the head.
<27 min
Mainly squid, but they may also feed on fish
Male – 35–45 years; Female – 60+ years

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Minke whales are medium-sized baleen whales, known for their agility and elusive nature, which makes observing and studying them a challenge for researchers.

Classification: Mysticeti, Family Balaenopteridae

This species can be observed throughout the year (Resident Species), with sightings being more common during spring.

- Adult length: Male – 8.5 m; Female – 9.5 m
- Adult weight: 8 tonnes
- This species displays a distinctive white band across its fins and a long ridge along the top of the rostrum, features that make it easily recognizable. When diving, it does not lift its tail flukes, and its blow is faint, often making it difficult to spot from a distance. As it surfaces, both the blowhole and the curved dorsal fin can be seen at the same time — a characteristic feature of its behavior.
<20 min
Krill, planktonic crustaceans, and schools of fish

Fin whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The fin whale is the second largest animal in the world, surpassed only by the blue whale. Known for its grace and speed, it moves through the water with remarkable fluidity and can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h.

Classification: Mysticeti, family Balaenopteridae

A migratory species, commonly observed during the spring months.

- Adult length: up to 26 m
- Adult weight: 40–50 tonnes
- These whales produce a powerful and distinctive blow and have a well-defined central ridge that runs along the rostrum. One of their most striking features is the asymmetric coloration of the head: on the right side, the mouth cavity and baleen plates are white, while on the left side they are uniformly grey, making this species easily recognizable.
up to 25 minutes
krill and schooling fish
80–90 years (the oldest recorded individual reached 114)

Sei whale

Balaenoptera borealis

The sei whale is found in areas with steep underwater slopes, including seamounts and deep submarine canyons, highlighting its ability to adapt to diverse marine environments. They can be encountered in waters as deep as 5,000 meters or in relatively shallow areas around 320 meters, demonstrating their remarkable versatility and wide-ranging habitat preferences in the world’s oceans.

Classification: Mysticeti, family Balaenopteridae

A migratory species, most commonly observed during the spring months.

Adult length: 16 m

Adult weight: 27 tonnes

Its size and build are comparable to the Bryde’s whale, though it has a slightly more robust body. It features a central ridge on the rostrum that extends from the blowhole to the tip of the snout.
<40 minutes
Schools of fish, krill, and squid
50–60 years (the oldest recorded individual lived 74 years)

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whales are renowned for their acrobatics, including breaching and flipper slapping, and are notable for having the longest pectoral fins of any whale, which accentuate their distinctive appearance. The unique black-and-white patterns on the underside of their tails allow individual identification, aiding in the monitoring of the species.

Classification: Mysticeti, family Balaenopteridae

Migratory species, observed in September/October

Adult length: 15 m

Adult weight: 35 tonnes

The dorsal fin of these whales can vary considerably, ranging from tall and concave to relatively small. Their pectoral fins are very long, reaching up to one-third of the body length, and each whale has a unique black-and-white pattern on the underside of the fins, allowing for individual identification.
40 minutes
Krill and schools of fish
at least 50 years (many reaching or exceeding 75 years)

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Bryde’s whales primarily inhabit tropical and subtropical waters, showing a clear preference for warmer oceanic regions.

Classification: Mysticeti, family Balaenopteridae

Migratory species, observed between June and October, when water temperatures are warm

Adult length: 15 m

Adult weight: 25 tonnes

This is the only rorqual with three parallel ridges running along the rostrum from the blowhole to the tip. It has a small, curved dorsal fin and a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 km/h.
5–20 minutes
Krill, crustaceans, and schools of fish
40–50 years