Cetaceans of the Mediterranean Sea

Cetaceans of the Mediterranean Sea

Guide to the recognizing of Mediterranean's Cetaceans

By carefully observing the emergence profile of the Cetaceans we can establish with certainty the species they belong to. First of all it is necessary to evaluate the size of the animal, the shape, the size and the position of the dorsal fin. The presence of a prolonged snout or rostrum, as well as the characteristics of the breath, can be other important data. Finally, the number of individuals present in the group and the distance from the coast can also be used to identify the species.

Come back to the Cetaceans Guide

To recognize the typical Mediterranean species, use the photogallery below or follow this scheme.
Clicking on the name of the species you can see the biological sheet with description and image.



UP TO 4 METERS LONG  
WITH ROSTRUM
 
Up to 10 miles from coast - grey colour Bottlenose dolphin
Up to 10 miles from coast - very big group Stripped dolphin
Up to 10 miles from coast - yellow color on the hips
Common dolphin
Up to 10 miles from coast - rostrum very long - grey color
Rough-tootheddolphin  
WITHOUT ROSTRUM
 
Very visible scratches on the gray body Rissos’s dolphin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG BETWEEN 4 TO 10 METERS  
WITH ROSTRUM
 
Small group – grey/green color Cuvier's Beaked whale
WITHOUT ROSTRUM  
Very curved fin – round head – completely black body Pilot whale

 

 

 

 

 

LENGHTS OVER 10 METERS   
ODONTOCETI
 
Shows the caudal fin – blow from the tip of the head Sperm whale
MISTICETI  
Evident dorsal fin – high blow above the eyes Finback whale