White-beaked dolphin

The white-beaked dolphin, a member of the Delphinidae family within the Odontoceti suborder, was first described by British taxonomist John Edward Gray in 1846. This dolphin is prevalent in European waters and belongs to the Lagenorhynchus genus. Its name, albirostris, signifies its distinctive feature—a white beak.

These dolphins are robust creatures with short beaks. Adult white-beaked dolphins typically reach lengths of about 2.3 to 3.1 meters and weigh between 180 to 354 kilograms. Their bodies are dark grey with light grey patches, and their undersides range from light grey to white. They possess 25 to 28 teeth and up to 92 vertebrae, with their flippers exhibiting unique lateralized behavior.

White-beaked dolphins are found in the cold temperate and subarctic waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, usually in areas shallower than 1,000 meters. They primarily feed on gadoid fish such as cod and haddock. These dolphins are social animals and are often observed in groups, displaying their acrobatic skills by riding bow waves and diving to depths of at least 45 meters.

Mating likely occurs in the summer. Female dolphins reach maturity between six and ten years of age, whereas males mature slightly later, around ten to twelve years.

However, the conservation status of the white-beaked dolphin is concerning. Populations in the North and Baltic Seas are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Additionally, they are protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish, and North Seas (ASCOBANS).