While the Humpback whales continue to be extremely active in Monterey Bay, on Wednesday aboard Sanctuary Cruises Whale Watching we found pods of Risso’s Dolphins. The second largest member of the dolphin family, Risso’s dorsal fins may literally tell a story of their social and predator prey activity.
Note the long scratches that are a result of an unusual behavior where by Risso’s rake their teeth across each other’s bodies and dorsal fin. Some scratches, often seen in a more circular pattern are delivered by the prey in which they consume, a variety of squid species. Armed with sharpened beaks and raspy circular sharp suckers lining their tentacles, squid will fight back creating scars on the Risso’s body.
Our next paddles offshore are November 9th and 29th at www.bluewaterventures.org
