Cetaceans

A total of 29 species of cetaceans have been recorded in the waters of the Azores.

Over thousands of hours spent at sea, Espaço Talassa has encountered 26 of these species, including some rarely seen in the archipelago such as the Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei), rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), and both the dwarf (Kogia sima) and pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps).
According to beaked whale specialists, our team has also documented sightings of the True’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus) — a particularly elusive species.

While some cetacean species are resident year-round in the Azorean waters, others appear only seasonally, following migratory routes and oceanic food sources.
For those who spend an entire season with us, it’s possible to encounter, on average, around 18 different species — a remarkable diversity within a single region of the North Atlantic.