How can you identify cetaceans in Guadeloupe?
When a spout appears on the horizon, a question often comes up on board: “What is that? A whale? A sperm whale? A dolphin?”
Watching cetaceans in Guadeloupe is already a special experience. But learning to recognize the different species makes the encounter even more interesting.
Blow, dorsal fin, silhouette, tail, or behavior: these are some of the clues our captains look for at sea.
Identifying cetaceans in Guadeloupe : What signs should you look for?
At sea, a cetacean often reveals only a small part of its body, sometimes for just a few seconds.
To try to identify it, we observe its blow, size, dorsal fin, swimming and diving patterns, as well as the number of individuals present.
With experience, some of these small details become valuable clues.
The sperm whale: a very distinctive blow
The sperm whale has a rather distinctive blow. Since its blowhole is located on the left side of its head, its blow appears low and angled forward and to the side.
When it prepares to dive deep, it may also lift its large tail fin out of the water before disappearing. It’s always an impressive sight to witness.
The Humpback Whale: A Majestic Silhouette
The humpback whale is distinguished in particular by its very long pectoral fins and its broad tail fin.
The tail fin is especially interesting: its patterns and markings sometimes make it possible to identify individual whales through photo-identification.
And when a whale jumps or slaps the surface with its tail fin or pectoral fins, there’s obviously much less room for doubt!
Dolphins: Look at the silhouette
Identifying the different species of dolphins in Guadeloupe sometimes requires a bit more attention.
The pantropical spotted dolphin gradually develops spots on its body. The long-beaked dolphin has a slender, elongated rostrum, while the bottlenose dolphin generally has a more robust build. As for the Fraser’s dolphin, its belly is completely pink ;-)
The size of the group and their behavior can also give us clues.
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin Fraser's Dolphin The Bottlenose Dolphin
The pilot whale: a distinctive head
The pilot whale has a sturdy build, a rounded head, and a broad dorsal fin that curves backward.
It often swims in groups, and its dark silhouette is quite distinctive once you learn to recognize it.
Learning to see the sea in a new light
Some species are easily recognizable. For others, identification is more like a mini-investigation.
A breath in the distance, then a dorsal fin… We wait for the next breath, watch the trajectory, and sometimes a tail fin finally appears and gives us the answer.
And sometimes, even with experience, you just have to accept that you won’t know right away.
That’s also what we love to share during our outings with Soleil Excursions: teaching you to look at the sea in a new way and to recognize some of the animals we’re lucky enough to encounter.
Setting out from Baillargent in Pointe-Noire, keep your eyes peeled… The next dorsal fin on the horizon might just be yours to identify!
Book an outing with us here.
Photos taken with a zoom lens during our observation outings, in accordance with the AGOA sanctuary’s protocols and approach distances.
Photo credit: Valérie Gueit.
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