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   More Information on:
Harbour Porpoise
  (Phocoena phocoena)
Minke Whale
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

 

     General Ecology  
 

 
  More Information on Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)    
         
  Bottlenose dolphins appear in coastal waters all around the World. They can be seen in scattered localities in bays and estuaries around Britain and Ireland. They are mainly coastal animals but can also be seen far from shore, These dolphins are fast swimmers and are often seen riding the bow of moving ships or even large whales.  
  They are social animals living in herds of between 2 - 25 animals, but can also form much larger groups of 45 - 60. The smaller groups are like an extended family with individuals remaining together over a number of years. Calves remain with their mothers for 3 to 10 years. Adult males may join the group for a short while, or go off to live in bachelor herds.  
     
  They eat a wide range of fish including herring, cod, mackerel and salmon. They tend to feed singly or in small groups and also by herding fish into a tight circle close to the surface.  
  A single calf is born a metre in length usually between March and September after a pregnancy of twelve months. If needed, other females will assist the calf up to the surface for its first breath of air. The interval between births is usually 2 - 3 years.

Dolphins have a complex communication system. Like human beings, a dolphin has a well-developed auditory memory, can learn through observations and comprehend a simple language and rules.