Local Species

There have been 19 different cetacean species identified in the Irish Sea in recent times.

Of these, 6 species are considered to be ‘Vagrant’ and 5 species are described as ‘Rare’.

The remaining 8 species are the ‘Regular’ cetaceans that can be found throughout the Irish Sea including around the coast of Mann.

Seven of these ‘Regular’ species are commonly seen around our shores, only the Long Finned Pilot Whale has been absent from that list in recent years.

        

Regular Species

Harbour Porpoise

  
Photo: copyright PGH Evans / SeaWatch Foundation.         

 

  • Small and stocky, 1.4 to 1.8 metres .
  • Small triangular dorsal fin .
  • Small groups or individuals.
  • Dark grey colour.
  • Not acrobatic.
  • Neither beak nor forehead bulge.
  • Does not bow ride.
  • The commonest cetacean found around Mann.

 

 

Common Dolphin

 
Photo: copyright PGH Evans / SeaWatch Foundation.

 

 

  • Small dolphin 1.6 to 2.4 metres.
  • 'V’ pattern below dorsal fin.
  • Dorsal can be strongly sickle-shaped.
  • Hourglass pattern on sides clearly visible.
  • Yellow/tan patch on each side.
  • Very streamlined body and slender beak.
  • Highly acrobatic, breaching and bow-riding
  • Often seen porpoising through the water.
  • Group size can number in 100’s.

 

 

Bottlenose Dolphins


Photo: copyright PGH Evans / SeaWatch Foundation.

 

 

  • Large dolphin to nearly 4 metres long.
  • Robust and very active.
  • Large central dorsal fin.
  • Grey or grey/beige colouration.
  • Off-white to pinkish-white undersides.
  • Distinct beak and rounded forehead.
  • Very acrobatic, breaching and bow-riding.
  • Often small groups but can be up to 40+.

 

 

 Risso’s Dolphin


Photo: copyright PGH Evans / SeaWatch Foundation.

 

  • Large, robust dolphin to 3.5 metres.
  • Mature adults very pale to white.
  • Head to dorsal fin can be heavily scarred.
  • Very tall dorsal fin.
  • Large rounded head, no beak.
  • Active and purposeful at surface.
  • Sometimes breach or spy-hop.
  • Recorded around Mann most months.

               

 

Killer Whale or Orca


Photo: copyright F Urgarte / SeaWatch Foundation.

 

  • Very large, males to nearly 10 metres.
  • Very robust, the biggest true dolphin.
  • Noticeably very black and very white.
  • Pale saddle patch behind dorsal fin.
  • Distinct white patch behind each eye.
  • Males have very tall erect dorsal fins.
  • Usually small groups.
  • Very active, sometimes breaching.

 

 

 Minke Whale

 
Photo: copyright PGH Evans / SeaWatch Foundation.

 

  • Most common whale in Manx waters.
  • Often seen within metres of the cliff face.
  • 7 to 10 metres in length.
  • Large dorsal fin 2/3rds along the body.
  • Strongly arching roll.
  • Sometimes seen lunge feeding.
  • Singly or aggregations of up to 20.
  • White stripe on both flippers.

 

Fin Whale


Photo: copyright PGH Evans / SeaWatch Foundation.

 
  • Truly huge whale, over 20 metres long.
  • Second largest animal ever on the planet.
  • Seen in deeper water within 10km of shore
  • Small dorsal fin, seen soon after blow.
  • Tall blow, up to 6 metres high.
  • Long shallow roll.
  • Tail flukes not normally seen.
  • Individuals or small groups.

 

 

Long Finned Pilot Whale.


Photo: copyright PGH Evans / SeaWatch Foundation.

 
  • Black cetacean, 4 to 6 metres long.
  • Bulbous, rounded head.
  • Low backwards pointing dorsal fin.
  • Usually seen in deeper water.
  • Usually in tightly compact schools.
  • Once common around the Isle of Man.
  • Few if any recent sightings.

 

More information.

For more detailed descriptions of these and other cetaceans, please go to:-

The SeaWatch Foundation  website: