Caribbean Creatures Part 3

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.

A relatively recent taxonomical discovery is the
Helmet dolphin, which is also known as the the
Clymene dolphin. This may be largely because it
is very similar in appearance to the Spinner
dolphin, and the two sometimes travel together
in the ocean. 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. The Blainville's beaked whale is
robust and stocky; 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. Over
half of the world's total population have been
wiped out since the 1980s, when large purse
seine nets came into widespread use. 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.


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