Niki Clear
Risso’s dolphin
Species information
Statistics
Length: up to 4 metres longLife span: 20 - 40 years
Conservation status
When to see
Risso's dolphins might be spotted on the water's surface where they are often active.About
Sometimes called 'gray dolphins', the Risso's dolphin enjoys deep offshore waters. The scratches on their bodies are believed to be a result of rough behaviour including fighting and catching prey. They have been known to breach clear of the water and slap their heads or tails on the surface!How to identify
Risso's dolphins have a robust, stocky body and large, blunt heads. They are a whiter colour than other dolphins and can be identified by the scratches and scarring often on their bodies. They have a large sickle shaped dorsal fin and their body colour turns from a dark grey to almost completely white as they get older.In our area
Scilly's seas abound with wildlife, including a variety of cetacean species including common dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales and even bigger species like humpback and fin whales. One of the best ways to see marine mammals is to watch from Scilly's many headlands (like Peninnis or Deep Point on St Mary's, Wingletang on St Agnes, Shipman Head Down on Bryher, Castle Down on Tresco or from the Daymark on St Martin's) or to head out on a WiSE accredited boat operator offshore. Cetaceans don't generally come between the islands, so a trip to the Western Rocks, Eastern Isles or beyond will give you the best opportunities to see them. You can also spot plentiful wildlife on the Scillonian III crossing from Penzance with Isles of Scilly Travel.
Risso's dolphins are one of the more unusual species of dolphin to spot off Scilly, but there are annual sightings. They are large and often very pale in colour, with huge, curved fins. Their bulbous heads and comically short snouts make them unmistakeable. They tend to hang out in small pods, and are often seen off the Cornish coast around Penzance.