Cetaceans of the Caribbean

Cetaceans, or Cetacea, are a special group of marine mammals. The name comes from an ancient Greek word for "sea monster." In 2020, scientists had identified about 86 different species of these amazing animals around the world. In the Caribbean, at least 35 kinds of cetaceans have been seen swimming in the waters. Some areas have many more of these animals than others.

The Caribbean waters are very important for some types of cetaceans called mysticeti. These animals use the Caribbean as a special place to have their babies before moving north for the rest of the year. Two other interesting cetaceans, the tucuxi and the boto, live in the freshwater parts of the Amazon River and nearby areas, just beyond the main Caribbean region.

Besides cetaceans, the Caribbean is also home to other marine mammals. There are two kinds of pinnipeds, which are animals like seals. One of these is a hooded seal that rarely comes to the area, and another is a California sea lion that escaped from an aquarium. Sadly, the Caribbean monk seal, the only seal that naturally lived in this area, is believed to have disappeared in the middle of the 20th century. The region also has many West Indian manatees, sometimes mixing with Amazonian manatees in a place called the Guiana Shield.

Species

Mysticeti (baleen whales)

See also: baleen whale

Balaenoptera

See also: Balaenoptera

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)

See also: Balaenoptera physalus

The fin whale is more common in colder areas than in tropical regions. However, in autumn, fin whale groups off the coast of Labrador move to the Caribbean islands, passing through Bermuda.

Live fin whales have been seen near the coasts of Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Colombia. Dead whales have been found along the coast of Belize (in 1986) and Mexico's Caribbean coast (in 2018). However, some of these may have been Bryde's whales.

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

See also: Balaenoptera acutorostrata

The common minke whale is the smallest type of its kind. It spends summer feeding in colder regions and moves to breeding areas along the Caribbean islands and the mid-Atlantic area. It has been seen from Florida to Dominica. Although several dead whales have been found in the Gulf of Mexico, no live ones have been observed there.

Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis)

See also: Balaenoptera bonaerensis

This species was thought to be the same as B.acurostrata until the 1990s. It lives mostly in the Antarctic Ocean and is found in the Southern Hemisphere. A dead whale was seen in 1998 in Suriname and another in 2013 in Louisiana. However, these rare sightings are considered unusual.

Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)

See also: Balaenoptera musculus

The blue whale is the largest animal alive today. Its summer range extends from Canada to Svalbard, and this range may have two separate groups. Like other whales, blue whales move further south during winter. However, little is known about where they go. Although there have been a few sightings (dead whales in the Gulf of Mexico, Panama Canal in 1922) and acoustic recordings south of Bermuda, these seem to be rare events, and blue whale breeding areas are more likely to be off the eastern coast of the United States.

Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni)

See also: Balaenoptera edeni

Bryde's whale is found in all the world's warm temperate and tropical waters. However, its classification is unclear. In 2021, Balaenoptera ricei was defined as a new species distinct from other Atlantic Bryde's whales, and as specific to the Gulf of Mexico. Additional studies mention a possible split into Balaenoptera edeni edeni (smallest) and Balaenoptera (edeni) brydei species or sub-species for other Bryde's whale groups. Sightings have been recorded throughout the Caribbean, especially off the coast of Venezuela, at Aruba, and further north up to the Dominican Republic. However, it is unclear which specific group they belong to. Molecular evidence has, for example, confirmed that the whale found dead in Aruba (mentioned above) was related to Balaenoptera (edeni) brydei.

Rice's whale (Balaenoptera ricei)

See also: Balaenoptera ricei

This species was considered until 2021 to be a group of whales specific to the northeast of the Gulf of Mexico, and not a migrating group. However, skeletal and genetic studies have shown that it is actually a distinct species. This species has an estimated population of thirty individuals and is considered Critically Endangered.

Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)

See also: Balaenoptera borealis

The sei whale is found worldwide, mainly in subtropical, subpolar, and temperate areas. However, at sea, it is often hard to tell apart from Bryde's whale, which it has long been confused with. It is also sometimes hard to tell apart from the fin whale. In summer, in the Atlantic Ocean, it is usually found near the Gulf of Maine. Little is known about its migration for the rest of the year. It prefers deep waters and is known to avoid semi-enclosed seas and gulfs. However, dead whales have been observed in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coasts of the Greater Antilles Archipelago.

Megaptera

See also: Megaptera

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

See also: Megaptera novaeangliae

There are several groups of Atlantic humpback whales. In the Northern Atlantic, they breed in the Caribbean region, feeding throughout the summer in several areas of Northern America and Northern Europe (Gulf of Maine, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, Northern Norway). Breeding in the Caribbean's warm and shallow waters takes place along the entire Caribbean island chain, from Cuba to Venezuela, with a strong confirmed group off the coast of the Dominican Republic.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, a number of Southern Atlantic individuals have been observed migrating all the way to the Guiana Shield to breed. However, their usual breeding area is further south, off the coast of Brazil. Unlike Northern Hemisphere individuals, the pectoral fins of Southern Hemisphere individuals are much darker, but their bellies are lighter.

Humpback whale seen from below

Flukes

Seen from above

Eubalaena

See also: Eubalaena

North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)

See also: Eubalaena glacialis

This Critically Endangered species has a population of just over 350 individuals in the northwestern Atlantic (a second, even smaller, group is located in the eastern Atlantic). Although the North Atlantic right whale spends most of its time outside the Caribbean zone, it uses the eastern coastlines of Georgia and Florida, at the northern edge of the Caribbean region, for its breeding sites. However, there have been several sightings in the Gulf of Mexico, indicating the possible historical presence of these animals further south.

Odontocetes (dolphins, killer whales and toothed whales)

See also: Odontoceti

Delphinidae (dolphins and killer whales)

See also: Delphinidae

Killer whale (Orcinus orca)

See also: Orcinus orca

The killer whale is the largest member of the Delphinidae family, and its range includes all the world's oceans, although most research on the species has been done in polar or subpolar environments. However, killer whales are observed throughout the Caribbean region all year round, with a morphotype showing differences from all previously described types (Antarctic, Subantarctic, North-West Atlantic, or North-West Pacific).

Delphininae

See also: Delphininae

Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis)

See also: Stenella frontalis

The Atlantic spotted dolphin is found only in the Atlantic Ocean, and is observed between 50°N and 25/30°S. There are several groups in the Western Atlantic, with two types: a large form living on the continental slope at depths of less than 200 m, especially in the Gulf of Mexico along the American coast, west of the Yucatán peninsula, and a smaller form further offshore and along the islands.

Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata)

See also: Stenella attenuata

The pantropical spotted dolphin lives in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, at greater depths than the Atlantic spotted dolphin.

The species is often seen in the open ocean in the Gulf of Mexico and is one of the most common dolphin species in tropical environments in general. It is also very common in the south of the Lesser Antilles.

It has also been observed elsewhere in the Caribbean, for example Puerto Rico, Tobago, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Colombia, generally in deep waters.

Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris)

See also: Stenella longirostris

The world distribution of the spinner dolphin is similar to that of the pantropical spotted dolphin.

In the North of the Gulf of Mexico, it is mainly seen east of the Mississippi, at depths greater than 200 m, all year round. The groups within the gulf (likely shared between the United States, Mexico, and Cuba) are assumed to be separate from those living in the Western Atlantic.

The spinner dolphin is seen along the entire Caribbean arc, although in varying numbers. Its preferred habitat seems to be around the islands, especially in the coastal zone and around seamounts. There is a large resident group in the Bahamas. They are hunted for food in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)

See also: Stenella coeruleoalba

The striped dolphin is found in most of the world's tropical and temperate waters.

In the North of the Gulf of Mexico, it is found at depths greater than 200 m and most often greater than 1000 m.

Sightings in the Caribbean are somewhat rare, limited to a few along the entire arc, in the Greater Antilles (United States Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Puerto Rico) and the Lesser Antilles.

Clymene dolphin (Stenella clymene)

See also: Stenella clymene

Clymene dolphins are specific to the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, mainly between New Jersey and southern Brazil on the western side. In the North of the Gulf of Mexico, most observations have been recorded in the deepest waters.

The Clymene dolphin is a hybrid between the spinner dolphin and the striped dolphin.

Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

See also: Delphinus delphis

Since 2016, the common dolphin, previously divided into long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) and short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), is considered to be a single species. It is one of the dolphins with the broadest distribution and highest numbers in all the habitats of all the main oceans.

However, it does not seem to have been observed in the Gulf of Mexico or in the Caribbean Sea, except for the North of South America, along the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela.

Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei)

See also: Lagenodelphis hosei

Fraser's Dolphin is a pantropical species found between 30°S and 30°N, and is therefore seen in the Wider Caribbean Region. The groups are generally seen offshore in deep waters, but may be encountered close to the coasts around oceanic islands, such as the Lesser Antilles.

Sightings in the Caribbean have been recorded especially off Puerto Rico, Bonaire, and the French Antilles.

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

See also: Tursiops truncatus

The Bottlenose dolphin is one of the most common dolphin species: its distribution is worldwide and it is seen in the three major ocean basins. Its local adaptation and its complex social structure have produced several clearly different groups, with morphological variations that are sometimes marked, especially in coastal waters.

In the Caribbean, for example, the NOAA identifies several groups managed separately in the Gulf of Mexico while around Puerto Rico a single type could be identified, but comprising two distinct genetic lines. The strong loyalty of these small groups to a single site, along with their genetic separation from other groups, makes them more vulnerable to human pressures.

In addition to the local coastal groups, an oceanic form living further offshore is also seen in the Caribbean region. The genetic relationships between the various groups, whether coastal or oceanic, require more detailed studies to be correctly identified.

The Bottlenose dolphin is the species most commonly kept in captivity in the Wider Caribbean Region. Several individuals of this species have been captured in Cuban waters and exported regionally and internationally.

Bottlenose dolphins off the [Yucatan Peninsula](/wiki/Yucatan_Peninsula), Mexico

Bottlenose dolphin in [Guadeloupe](/wiki/Guadeloupe)

Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis)

See also: Sotalia guianensis

The Guiana dolphin, also known as the estuarine dolphin or costero, is a mostly coastal species, found in the Caribbean region from Brazil to Honduras in the north.

It lives in groups in calm, shallow waters close to the coast and in estuaries, with a strong loyalty to its site.^{[citation needed]}

There is an isolated group more than 500 km (310 mi) inland up the river Orinoco in Venezuela.

Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis)

See also: Sotalia fluviatilis

In contrast, the dolphins living in the river basin of the Amazon have been recognized since the late 2010s as tucuxi, a separate species from Sotalia guianensis, and do not seem to venture out to sea. This means that it is not, strictly speaking, a marine mammal, unlike the Amazon river dolphin, from which it differs completely.

Whether the Lake Maracaibo group in Venezuela belongs to one or the other of the two Sotalia species remains to be determined.

Globicephalinae

See also: Globicephalinae

False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens)

See also: Pseudorca crassidens

The false killer whale has a worldwide distribution, ranging over all the world's oceans between 50°N and 50°S, although the group density decreases substantially at latitudes above 15°. It is also seen in the Caribbean region, mainly around the Greater and Lesser Antilles and occasionally in the Western Caribbean. The species is also seen in the North of the Gulf of Mexico, mainly in the eastern part.

Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis)

See also: Steno bredanensis

The rough-toothed dolphin is found in all the world's warm waters, between 40°N and 35°S, in a wide variety of habitats. Its groups have well-defined structures. For example, the groups West and East of Florida seem to be separate. In the North of the Gulf of Mexico most sightings have been recorded in the open ocean, with a few cases on the continental shelf.

The rough-toothed dolphin has also been observed in the Caribbean Sea, for example around Aruba, off Honduras or off Colombia.

Pygmy (or dwarf) killer whale (Feresa attenuata)

See also: Feresa attenuata

Few sightings of pygmy killer whales have been recorded in the Caribbean. One was captured at Saint Vincent in 1969 and a mass stranding occurred in the British Virgin Islands in 1995.

Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)

See also: Globicephala macrorhynchus

In the water it is hard to tell apart the short- and long-finned pilot whales, but morphological genetic analyses show characteristic differences. Their distributions overlap in the North of the Caribbean region, along the American coast, but only the short-finned pilot whale is seen in the Caribbean region, the long-finned species preferring to avoid warm waters. However, some strandings of long-finned pilot whales have been observed in Florida.

The short-finned pilot whale is found throughout the Caribbean and along the continental shelf and slope of the Gulf of Mexico. It is apparently the most common dolphin species around Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus)

See also: Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is found in the three major oceans, in temperate and tropical waters, mainly on the continental slope. Higher numbers are observed on the continental slope of the Gulf of Mexico, although its distribution is worldwide in all oceans. Similarly, in the North-East Atlantic it is seen along the slope and moves further offshore in winter.

Sightings have been reported off Aruba, French Guiana, Venezuela and Mexico but do not seem to be common in the region.

Melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra)

See also: Peponocephala electra

The melon-headed whale is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters.

The rare sightings in the Gulf of Mexico have been in relatively deep waters at depths greater than 800 m. Sightings are also rather rare in the rest of the Caribbean, East or West, and consequently little is known about its distribution.

Iniidae

See also: Iniidae

Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)

See also: Inia geoffrensis

The genus Iniidae has only one species, the freshwater Amazon river dolphin, also known as the boto. It lives in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, but also, outside the Caribbean region, further West in Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. Its distribution extends from the estuaries to far upstream, where it is blocked by currents or waterfalls.

Physeteridae and Kogiidae (sperm whales)

See also: Kogiidae

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)

See also: Physeter macrocephalus

The sperm whale, or cachalot, is a cosmopolitan species, often seen near continental shelves and canyons.

The group in the Lesser Antilles is one of the most closely studied in the world, and consists of several social units (mainly females and their young), travelling between several islands; most of these units are declining. The Caribbean arc group(s) appear(s) to be divided into three vocal clans sharing a common vocal repertoire.

Sperm whales are the most common large dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, where their movements are determined by areas of high and low atmospheric pressure. At least one group seems to be resident in the Gulf.

Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima)

See also: Kogia sima

The dwarf sperm whale, whose shape closely resembles that of the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), is found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide, apparently preferring warmer waters than Kogia breviceps.

Although the species is rarely seen, spending most of its time in open sea, sightings have been reported along the Florida coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Caribbean arc. Strandings have been reported in the South and West of the Caribbean basin, in Costa Rica (2006), Honduras (2011), Aruba, Curaçao and Colombia (2008). Insufficient information is available to determine group sizes, let alone their trends.

Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)

See also: Kogia breviceps

Like the other Kogia species, the pygmy sperm whale is found worldwide, with sightings reported along the entire Western Atlantic seaboard, from Argentina to Canada. It also lives in deep waters, and its behavior is such that it is rarely seen at the surface.

Many dead individuals were reported in the second half of the 20th century, particularly in Colombia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands and Mexico, at any time of the year, suggesting a continuous presence in the Caribbean basin despite the lack of sightings at sea. No sightings have been reported in the waters of the Dutch Caribbean, suggesting a lack of sightings rather than an absence of the species.

In the North of the Gulf of Mexico (EEZ of the United States), the estimated number of the two species combined was 336 individuals in 2017/2018.

Ziphiidae (beaked whales)

See also: Ziphiidae

The beaked whales seen in the region include Cuvier's beaked whale (or goose-beaked whale) and four species of mesoplodont whales which are often hard to identify at species level. As telling apart the species of mesoplodont whales at sea is very hard, offshore sighting data are often grouped under Mesoplodon sp. Blainville's and Gervais' beaked whales are the only two mesoplodont whales with a confirmed continuous presence in the region; the other two species are unusual cases. A hydrophone recording of an unknown mesoplodont whale has been obtained in the Gulf of Mexico.

Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris)

See also: Ziphius cavirostris

Cuvier's beaked whale, or goose-beaked whale, is the most common and abundant species of beaked whale. It is seen in all oceans, from the tropics to the polar regions, excluding shallow waters and very high latitudes.

In the North-East Atlantic Ocean, it is mainly seen along the edge of the continental shelf and, in the Gulf of Mexico, in areas where the depth is greater than 1000 m.

Studies on some groups suggest that Cuvier's beaked whale travels relatively short distances and has a strong loyalty to a particular region, suggesting a relatively strong social structure.

The species has been recorded making the longest dive ever documented for any mammal, making its detection and the estimation of its numbers very hard. Its distribution is known mainly through strandings. It is also one of the cetacean species most often found dead in the North-Eastern Caribbean.

Sightings have been reported off Cuba, Dominican Republic, Saint Martin, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Vincent, Barbados, Venezuela, Colombia, the Dutch Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico.

Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris)

See also: Mesoplodon densirostris

Blainville's beaked whale seems to have the widest distribution of any mesoplodont whale species, and is found in temperate to tropical waters in all oceans. It mainly lives in deep waters, but can also be seen near the coast, especially around islands and on the edges of continental shelves. It prefers steep zones where it can feed both in the deep scattering layer and at the bottom.

Strandings have been reported in the Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.

Gervais' beaked whale (Mesoplodon europaeus)

See also: Mesoplodon europaeus

Because it's hard to tell apart the mesoplodont whales by sight at sea, most sightings are recorded simply as mesoplodon sp. Strandings have been reported in Trinidad, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, on Curaçao, on Bonaire in the Virgin Islands and on Martinique.

True's beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus)

See also: Mesoplodon mirus

This North Atlantic species lives mainly on the edge of the continental shelf and further offshore, mostly in temperate waters, as far as Florida and the Bahamas. A stranding of this species occurred in the Bahamas in 1981.

Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens)

See also: Mesoplodon bidens

This species is at the edge of its distribution in the Wider Caribbean Region, preferring the cold waters of the North Atlantic. A single stranding occurred in 1984 on the coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico but this was apparently a lost individual.

Other marine mammals

Other types of marine mammals, besides cetaceans, can be seen in the Wider Caribbean region. These include the West Indian manatee, which has two subspecies: the Caribbean manatee and the Florida manatee. Sadly, the West Indian monk seal was last seen in 1952 and is considered extinct. Occasionally, travelers might spot a California sea lion, which was introduced to the area in the 1950s and 1960s, even though it is not naturally found there.

Threats

Between 2010 and 2014, a project studied the dangers to marine mammals in the Caribbean. It looked at problems like pollution, building along the coast, ships, and fishing. In 2020, another project checked how countries were helping these animals and listed the dangers they face.

Marine mammals can get caught in fishing nets, which can hurt or harm them. In the Caribbean, where many people fish on a small scale, there isn’t much information about this problem. Some whales and dolphins have been found stuck in fishing equipment. Also, some people hunt marine mammals, but we don’t know how this affects their numbers.

Building along the coast is growing fast, which can pollute the water and make noise. This can bother marine mammals. Pollution from land, like chemicals and waste, can also harm them. Sometimes, oil spills happen, which can be very dangerous. Marine mammals can also get sick from harmful substances in the water.

People have been watching whales for fun for many years, and it can help the local economy. But if too many people come to watch, it can stress the whales. There aren’t many programs to learn more about these animals in the Caribbean, and the information we have is spread out. Keeping these animals in places for people to see can also be a problem for their well-being.

Noise from things like oil exploration and ships can bother marine mammals because they use sound to talk and find their way. Ships can also crash into these animals, but we don’t know how often this happens. Climate change may also bring new challenges, like hotter water and less food for these animals.

Management

International regulations

Countries that are members of the International Whaling Commission agreed to stop hunting some types of whales. This rule only stops people from selling whale products, but some groups can still hunt whales for special reasons and with limits. In the Caribbean, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines can hunt a certain number of humpback whales each year between 2019 and 2025. There are also rules to protect whales and other sea animals under the CITES convention.

In the Caribbean, countries that signed the SPAW Protocol of the Cartagena Convention agreed to protect all sea mammals in their waters. This means no one can hurt, catch, or sell these animals, and their homes must be kept safe. There are some exceptions for science or to help the animals survive. In 2008, these countries made a plan to help protect these sea animals.

In 2014, a project called LifeWeb suggested creating special areas to protect sea mammals in the Caribbean, including areas near the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia, Martinique, and Guadeloupe.

National regulations

In 2020, a study looked at the rules each Caribbean country has to protect sea mammals. Some countries have special areas called sanctuaries to help protect these animals.

Sanctuaries for marine mammals

Some countries have made special areas called sanctuaries to protect sea animals. These areas are meant to keep these animals safe and their homes healthy. Since 2000, many of these sanctuaries have worked together to share ideas and help each other.

The LifeWeb project in 2014 found that many smaller protected areas were not enough to protect sea animals that live far from shore. In 2020, another project found that most plans to protect areas near the coast did not pay much attention to sea animals. The LifeWeb project suggested making a network of protected areas to help these animals. Projects like MamaCocoSea and CARI'MAM have helped connect people who work to protect sea animals in the Caribbean.

Agoa Sanctuary

The Agoa Sanctuary covers the waters around Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy. It was created in 2010 to protect sea animals and their homes from harm.

Yarari Sanctuary

The Yarari Sanctuary was created in 2015 around Saba and Bonaire. In 2018, it was expanded to include Sint Eustatius. This sanctuary helps protect sea animals and sharks.

Silver Bank and Navidad Bank Sanctuary

This sanctuary in the Dominican Republic was created in 1986. It is a very important place for humpback whales to have their babies each winter.

Bermuda Marine Mammal Sanctuary

In 2012, Bermuda made its whole area a sanctuary to protect sea animals, especially humpback whales. This helps work together with other sanctuaries, like one in Massachusetts Bay.