MARINE MAMMALS :
WHALES
DOLPHINS &
A WORLD
OF BIODIVERSITY!
The cetacean family is made up of whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are marine mammals that breathe using their lungs, maintain their bodies at a constant temperature and give birth to and suckle their young.
ANATOMY OF A CETACEAN Snout
Spiracle
Melón
PUNTA DE TENO
Atlantic spotted Dolphin
Eye
Dorsal fin
Risso`s Dolphin
PUNTA DE LA RASCA
CETACEANS
Pectoral Fins
Short-fined pilot whale
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Gráphic evolution
Million year (M.Y.)
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49 M. Y.
around Arona home, meaning we can observe these family groups all year round.?
DANGERS IN THE SEA: Humans are responsible for the majority of the threats faced by cetaceans. We have turned the seas and oceans into dumping sites. Waste material, all nature of plastics, nets, cables and fishing tackle are abandoned causing serious injuries to marine fauna (birds, turtles and cetaceans) or even leading to their extinction. The noise produced by boat motors and their sonar systems affects the communication system of cetaceans. Noise pollution represents another threat for these animals. At times, vessels are involved in collisions with the animals, which causes them serious injuries.
50 M. Y.
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Their skin is smooth and hairless. They have developed a significant layer of blubber, which insulates The ears disappeared. them and protects They conserve the inner them from the cold. ear and the outer ear has become a small orifice behind the eye.
whale, have made their permanent waters
The tail fin developed to propel them through the water. Their eyes are small and have no lacrimal glands.
Genitals and mammary glands are located in slits.
Watching cetaceans in unauthorised vessels or vessels that do not follow the ethical code of conduct may stress or annoy the animals.
The front legs became pectoral fins, whilst the rear legs disappeared.
Did you know... cetaceans are able to see and hear in and out of the water?
15 M. Y.
Patronato de Turismo:
Toothed whales have a powerful sonar that allows them to interpret their surroundings using sound. We call this echolocation. They find their bearings via echo. The animals emit soundwaves that impact and bounce off rocks, fish and other dolphins. They pick up the echo and it is interpreted by their brain to provide them with information on the form, size and distance of objects.
BA
A
R C O A Z UL
baleen
Misticetos
The Mysticeti have baleen plates which allow them to feed on small crustaceans such as krill, while the whales in the rorqual family are also able to consume shoals of fish. The tongue of the baleen whales plays an important role in feeding, as the pressure it exerts allows the whales to filter the food and expel the leftover water from their mouths.
On Tenerife, various environmental associations exist that make highly commendable efforts to conserve and provide information on nature, such as the Tonina association, which develops various research projects in Arona. If you want to know more about the Tropical Pilot Whales of the South or other projects, visit their website:
UES BOO
www.asociaciontonina.com
Whales create songs, composed to call to their partners or young.
FÜR EINEN VERANTWORTUNGSVOLLEN TOURISMUS
Boats that have been authorised for professional whale-watching are identified by a special “blue boat” flag. These boats are committed to following the ethical code of conduct and have a specialist guide on board to provide detailed information about the animals and their environments.
The following are strictly forbidden:
Maintain a minimum distance of 60 metres from the animal. Maximum observation time: 30 minutes. Travel at reduced speed. Avoid a high number of boats around the same group of animals.
From Arona, you can enjoy the activity of cetacean watching from the Puerto de los Cristianos and from the Marina de Sur in Las Galletas. Consult the various authorised companies on the following site:
Current cetaceans
Dolphins emit high and low-frequency sounds, like whistles, clacks and clicks that serve to establish relationships based on identification and communication.
Choose Blue Flag!!
The following whale-watching rules must be respected:
ECHOLOCATION:
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Foto: Jorge Cáceres
Observing cetaceans in their natural habitat is an infinitely rewarding experience. However, to make sure these animals continue to have a home in the Canary Islands, and to allow us to continue watching them, legislation has been introduced at a national and international level to regulate this activity through a code of ethical conduct and ensure the animals are observed in a respectful manner.
Swimming with the animals, feeding them, touching them or disturbing them with noises. Throwing rubbish or any other waste materials into the sea. Flying over the area in order to watch the animals. Using sonar equipment. Sailing in circles or reversing in the observation area.
45 M. Y.
24 M. Y.
ETHICAL CODE OF CONDUCT
BL
i
OFICINAS DE INFORMACIÓN TURÍSTICA:
The nose moved to the upper head to form the blowhole.
the
bottlenose dolphin and short-finned pilot
T
Tail fin
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Did you know...?
Fotos: Chloe Yzoard
Anus
Cetaceans are descendants from land mammals that evolved around 50 million years ago into the animals we know today. These modern cetaceans have developed a more hydrodynamic appearance and are extraordinarily well-adapted to the marine environment.
toothed
whistle and whales sing?
Caudal Peduncle
Did you know... the progenitor of cetaceans was a land animal?
Misti-ceto=air cetaceans Odonto-ceto=toothed cetaceans
Did you know...dolphins
Mammary slit
LIFE AT SEA
Cetaceans are divided into the Odontoceti, or toothed whales (dolphins, sperm whales and beaked whales), and Mysticeti, or baleen whales (rorquals and balaenids). These names come from Greek, and have the following meanings:
The teeth of the Odontoceti are all identical, and the animals enjoy a varied diet. They eat fish of all sizes, along with cephalopods and shellfish, and use echolocation to find their prey. They only have one nasal orifice, or blowhole, and it is smaller than that of baleen whales.
Bryde`s Whale
Navel
ADAPTED TO
TOOTHED OR BALEEN?
Odontocetos
Foto: Asociación Tonina
The island of Tenerife is the jewel in the crown of the Atlantic Ocean. Over a third of its total area is protected. Located on the southwestern coast of Tenerife, the municipality of Arona is home to one of the island's most ecologically important coastal areas: the Teno-Rasca marine reserve. Its importance is recognised at European level, as the European Commission has declared it a special area of conservation and it forms part of the Natura 2000 network. (SAC) No 103- TF ES 7020017.
To date, 88 species of cetacean have been catalogued throughout the world. On the Canary Islands, up to 30 different species can be spotted over the course of the year. On Tenerife, within the Teno-Rasca marine reserve, 26 species can be seen.
Foto: Asociación Tonina
THE SOUTHERN SEAS: A JEWEL NAMED TENO-RASCA
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HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR EXPERIENCE WHILST ENSURING IT IS SUSTAINABLE? Arona, a municipality committed to sustainability invites you, as a visitor, to make your stay on the island as respectful and responsible as possible. Follow these small tips and with your actions you will help to conserve the richness of the territory you are visiting: Make responsible choices when hiring services, selecting local, legally constituted, ethical and respectful companies. Learn about the history, culture and natural values of the inhabitants. Use energy resources in a responsible manner and save water, one of our most highly valued resources, whilst on the Canary Islands. Reduce waste to a minimum. Get around using collective or ecological means of transport. Respect natural areas and spaces and leave them unaltered. Make your actions respect the natural environment. Enjoy and respect local culture.
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HOW TO IDENTIFY A CETACEAN?
1
SPERM WHALE / Physeter macrocephalus Maximum length: 18 metres Frequency of observation: Resident Identification guide: Large, square-shaped head. The blowhole is at the front of the head towards the left. These whales spout forwards and off-centre. They have wrinkled, dark-coloured skin, with a very small dorsal fin. They show their tailfin before submerging and can remain underwater for nearly two hours.
There are various aspects to take into account when identifying a species, such as the way the animal behaves when breaching or submerging, the way it exhales, the size of the group, and morphological characteristics, for example:
ARONA
The size of the animal The shape and position of the dorsal fin (if it has one) The shape of the head The colour of the body
2
BRYDE’S WHALE / Balaenoptera edeni Maximum length: 15 metres Frequency of observation: Seasonal – early autumn and spring Identification guide: This whale has three crests on its head, positioned lengthwise. It is dark grey in colour, becoming lighter towards the stomach area. It also has ventral ridges up to the navel area..
3
KILLER WHALE / Orcinus orca Maximum length: 8 metres Frequency of observation: Occasional Identification guide: Large, square-shaped head.
The blowhole is at the front of the head towards the left. These whales spout forwards and off-centre. They have wrinkled, dark-coloured skin, with a very small dorsal fin. They show their tailfin before submerging and can remain underwater for nearly two hours.
2,5 MTS
4
SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE / Globicephala macrorhynchus
5
ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHIN / Steno bredanensis Maximum length: 2.6 metres Frequency of observation: Sporadic, though it can be seen all year round. Identification guide: Cone-shaped head without an indent between the melon and snout. Long, almost triangular dorsal fin. This dolphin gets its name from its large teeth, which have lengthwise ridges.
6
Maximum length: 5 metres Frequency of observation: Resident Identification guide: Robust body. Long snout with a curved mouth and flattened melon. Mature males have two teeth in their lower jaw. Brown or grey in colour, with a large number of cracks. Small, triangular dorsal fin located towards the rear of the animal’s back.
Maximum length: 5.5 metres Frequency of observation: Resident Identification guide: Dorsal fin curved backwards; round head. The base of the dorsal fin is wider in males. Dark grey/near black in colour, with a lighter patch on the back.
8
BLAINVILLE’S BEAKED WHALE / Mesoplodon densirostris
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SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN
Delphinus delphis Maximum length: 2.5 metres Frequency of observation: Seasonal Identification guide: Prominent snout, clearly separated fromthe melon. Yellow colouration throughout its body, againsta black background.
RISSO’S DOLPHIN / Grampus griseus Maximum length: 3.5 metres Frequency of observation: Sporadic Identification guide: Robust body. Short snout, barely separated from the prominent melon. Light grey in colour, with abundant white patches that increase in proportion to age.
10 STRIPED DOLPHIN / Stenella coeruleoalba Maximum length: 2.2 metres Frequency of observation: Sporadic Identification guide: Shorter snout, clearly separated from the melon. Blue in colour, with a number of stripes or streaks between its snout and pectoral fins.
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7
DELFÍN MULAR / Tursiops truncatus Maximum length: 2.7 metres Frequency of observation: Resident Identification guide: Short snout, separated from the melon.
ATLANTIC SPOTTED DOLPHIN / Stenella frontalis Maximum length: 2 metres Frequency of observation: Seasonal Identification guide: Prominent snout, clearly separated from the melon. Adults have white spots or freckles.
Note: The illustrations are not to scale and the animals are not shown in their true proportion to one another. The average size for each species is given in metres.
© Chloe Yzoard Ilustrations Collaborate: Asociación Tonina Printed: Imprenta Reyes, S.L.