Even More Caribbean Animals

For the landlocked, whales and dolphins are almost magical; they exist so far away

from a landlubber's everyday situation, and it can feel as though they are exclusive to aquariums and zoos. But this is not the case, obviously, and seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural ocean habitat is a powerful experience. For travelers to the Caribbean, there are a number of unique aquatic mammals to keep an eye out for; here are just a few.

The Clymene dolphin, also known as the Helmet dolphin, is a relatively recent taxonomical discovery. This may be in part because it looks very similar to the Spinner dolphin, and the two species occasionally travel together in the wild. Virtually the only differences between the two is the Clymene's shorter beak, and most individuals have a black mustache-shaped mark on the top of their snout. Thus, it wasn't until 1981 that the Clymene was distinguished from its relative. This stocky medium-sized mammal is endemic to the Atlantic ocean; the warm waters between Western Africa and North America are preferred by it. There have been multiple sightings of Clymenes in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, but relatively little is known about them so far.

The common minke whale is a member of the rorqual taxonomic family. This group is a type of baleen whale, and includes the largest living animal, the blue whale; the common minke, as the smallest rorqual, still weighs nearly 10 tons. They range in length from 23 to 32 feet, and have a dark grey back with white coloring on their stomachs. It's common for the subspecies to be found during whale-watching expeditions in the Atlantic ocean, and it can be found in the Pacific ocean as well. They are inquisitive, curious creatures who delight in reciprocal 'human-watching' when tourist boats come to call - on any Caribbean ocean trip, they are a delight to behold.

The Blainville's beaked whale is another species found in lots of places, but it is particularly well-documented off the coast of the Bahamas and around the Caribbean; it's one of the best spots to capture a glimpse of this curious mesoplodont. A good description of the Blainville beaked whale, is that it is stocky and robust; males grow to be almost 15 feet long and 1800 pounds, whereas the larger females can regularly weigh in at 2200 pounds. The males possess a very distinctive head, making them quite easy to identify: their two horn-like teeth are encrusted with barnacles and protrude from the lower jaw. Their foreheads are quite flat, with the lower jaw arching up to meet the upper. Males are also usually covered in the distinctive round bites left by cookie-cutter sharks, which eventually scar over.

The protection of the pantropical spotted dolphin as a species, is what was largely responsible for the push for 'dolphin-friendly' commercial fishing laws. This creature, named for its distinctive markings, has a propensity for swimming alongside yellowfin tuna fish. By the 1980s, commercial tuna fishing using large purse seine nets had resulted in the death of over half of the world's total population. However, thanks to new regulations and the scandal receiving worldwide public attention, the population of pantropical spotted dolphins has bounced back marvelously. These dolphins are very active and theatrical; they will ride alongside the bows of boats and breach in huge, splashy leaps.

by: Robert Nickel

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