If you hop on a boat and drive out of a marina on the coast of Florida, very likely the only cetacean species you’ll see are Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. However, even though we don’t always see them, many other species of dolphin and small whales can be found in Florida waters (though you may have to travel quite a ways offshore to find them).
Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin in an intercoastal waterway in southwest Florida
For the past few days, I have been digging deep to discover more about the small cetaceans found in Florida waters. I have even created a map with my findings (see my “Florida Dolphin Species” page). The different colors on the whale and dolphin icons represents different species. A list of the species and their “color code” is provided on the page. Even with all of those markers, the map is still under construction, and it will be updated with more info as I continue my research in books and on the internet.
At this point, the species of small whales and dolphins that I have found reports of Florida waters are:
- Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (of course)
- Atlantic Spotted Dolphins
- Short-Finned Pilot Whales
- [Juvenile] Sperm Whales
- False Killer Whales
- Melon-Headed Whales
- Fraser’s Dolphins
- Curvier’s Beaked Whales
- Pygmy Killer Whales
- Risso’s Dolphin
- Dwarf Sperm Whales
- Pygmy Sperm Whales
- Spinner Dolphins
- Killer Whales (though these sightings have not yet been added to the map)
When I first started watching dolphins in Florida, I was thrilled to see the many Bottlenose Dolphins, but I felt as though the state of Florida was a little “cetacean deprived.” Well, after doing this brief study on the dolphins and whales found in the waters around Florida, I have truly shifted how I see dolphin watching opportunities in this state.
NOT MY IMAGE | From this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cj5rpgrOl8 - Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, about 100 miles offshore of Boca Grande Pass, Florida
Though some of the cetaceans listed above are rarely seen in Florida, others are spotted surprisingly often. For example, I have found many photos and videos of Atlantic Spotted Dolphins off of Florida’s southwest, northeast, and southeast coasts. While most of the footage was captured between 30 and 100 miles offshore, one video, apparently taken off of Miami, appeared to only be a mile or two off the beach.
That’s not to say there’s some kind of guarantee that you’ll see various species of dolphin in Florida - still, it’s very likely that you’ll only come across Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. However, the next time your on a boat in Florida (or anywhere else), be on the lookout!
No comments:
Post a Comment