Bottlenose dolphins Family Groups

1. PICACHO Bottlenose dolphins Family Groups Bottlenose dolphins live in large family groups called pods. Within the pod there are smaller famillies with very close bonds. These groups change from year to year. AWF (the Atlantic Whale Foundation) in collabaration with PAT (Proyecto Ambiental Tenerife) and the Confedaration of Whalewatching boats of Tenerife has studied the way the famillies have changed around Los Gigantes since 1999. In 2001 one main group was seen but in 2002 we identified two separate groups. Group A had a core of 8 dolphins and group B had a core of 11 dolphins. However, other dolphins were also seen that joined either group. AWF volunteers use ´photo identification`and information from people in the industry to identify individual dolphins. Each dolphin has distinctive notches in its dorsal fin like a human fingerprint. Volunteers photograph the dolphins each time they see them and use the photos to work out who they are. This can be used to see which dolphins are in each group and how they behave. In 2004 only one main group of 28 dolphins has been identified but with serveral smaller groups within it, each with different behaviours. Again, dolphins have also been seen than can not be placed within the main group.

2. N0411 65 – No Name 64 – Andres N0413 29 - Marko 41 – No name 22 – No Name N0401 13 - Miguel 3 – Pedro 23 - Picacho N0412 N0404 35 - Loca 46 - Maurice N0405 74 - Nessy 72 – no name 4 62 - Chuco N0407 59 - Fransisco 71 – No Name 7 – Jose/Jigsaw 31 - Bufadero 19 - Hook 14 - Antonio 49 – No Name N0409 Bottlenose dolphins of Los Gigantes 5 1 3 2

3. N0411 22 – No Name N0401 3 – Pedro N0412 N0404 N0405 35 - Loca 62 - Chuco 19 - Hook 14 - Antonio Bottlenose dolphins – Subgroup 1 - 2004 Loca is central to subgroup 1, linking the other members of the group. Loca means ´crazy´and she was given this name as she was the only dolphin to respond in a music experiment. She is also often the first to come and bow ride. This group have generally been sighted inshore, often feeding aound the fish farms. However, some members of the group such as Antonio are frequently seen further offshore Loca had a calf in 2001 who was named Locita (little crazy one) by Pablo on the Nashira after she was seen misbehaving, running away and jumping on her mother. Five members of this group have been seen for the first time this year, this is the highest number in any group. These may be dolphins that have moved in from another area or they may be calves from previous years that have grown up. It is very difficult to identify the calves as they usually have ´clean´fins with no nicks and scars – they only get these markings as they grow up, probably from fights with other dolphins or predators like sharks. This means one of them could be Locita still with her mothers group!

4. 23 - Picacho 46 - Maurice N0407 71 – No Name 7 – Jose/Jigsaw 31 - Bufadero 14 - Antonio 49 – No Name N0409 Bottlenose dolphins – Subgroup 2 - 2004 Antonio and Picacho Antonio has been seen around Los Gigantes every year since 1999. He is very sociable and has been seen with at least five different known dolphins. Antonio was sighted several times in 2002 but never placed within a specific family group. In 2004 he is at the heart of the main group and one of the most important links between the diffrent subgroups. Bufadero has also been sighted in this area every year since 1999. She has close bonds to Maurice (who may also be female). In 2002 they were almost always seen together but in 2004 they have only been seen together twice so far. A calf has been seen with with this group but it is not certain who´s baby it is. The mother may be Bufadero who had a previous calf called Pulgarcito in summer 2002 . However, so far there are no clear photos to confirm this idea. Members of this group are frequently seen feeding around the fish farm. Half of all sightings of Bufadero in 2004 have been at the fish farms and Jose is also a common visitor. However, whilst Bufadero tends to stick close inshore when she travels up and down the coast, Jose and other members of the group range much further offshore

5. 29 - Marko 41 – No name 74 - Nessy 72 – no name 59 - Fransisco 7 – Jose/Jigsaw 19 - Hook Bottlenose dolphins – Subgroup 3 - 2004 Nessy provides the focus for this group, she is very sociable, seen in the company of all the other dolphins in the group. Nessy has been seen here every year since 2000 and was part of the core group in 2001, almost always seen with number 77 (who hasn´t yet been seen this year). In 2001 Nessy had a calf San Blás that she was sighted with 13 times. This year she has a new calf that was born in late July. This group are ususally seen further much offshore than the other groups. They have not been seen at the fish farms but range both north and south of Los Gigantes in deeper water. Nessy and her calf in July 2004 This group are usually sighted travelling. They are often seen porpoising (leaping forwards with their whole bodies clear of the water) which allows them to travel faster. They have also been seen breaching (jumping out of the water and falling back in backwards or sideways). Jose is another long term resident, he has been seen around Los Gigantes every year since 1998.

6. 65 – No Name 64 – Andres 13 - Miguel N0413 Bottlenose dolphins – Subgroups 4 & 5 - 2004 4 The dolphins in subgroups 4 and 5 have not been seen with the main group. Each pair has only been sighted once in 2004. Miguel has been seen around Los Gigantes every year since 1999. He was a part of the core group in 2001 and 2002 but in 2004 he seems to have moved away from the main group. Perhaps he just hasn´t been seen with them yet – have you spotted him? Both Andres and Number 65 were first seen here in 2000 but while Andres has been present every year, Number 65 was not seen again until 2004. Neither dolphin has ever been part of the main Los Gigantes pod. These two dolphins have been seen very close to Los Gigantes harbour with a juvenille. They were playing; surfing in the waves, bowriding in front of a boat and spyhopping (sitting up straight in the water and poking their heads out to see around them). 5 One of the group bowriding