The yellowfin tuna “Thunnus albacares”, or light tuna is a type of tuna found in the open waters of tropical and subtropical seas around the world, although absent from the Mediterranean. It is an epipelagic fish that lives in the first 100 meters of the water column. This fish with a hydrodynamic body is gray or blue color with a yellow or silver belly and “adorned” with 20 vertical lines. The characteristic that gives him this name is the coloration of the edge of the anal fins, the dorsal fin and the fins, since they are a bright yellow hue. His size can reach 239 cm in length and 200 kg in weight. Yellowfin tuna has become an effective substitute for fin tuna, whose populations have been severely reduced.

The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is one of the largest, fastest, and most beautifully colored fish in the world. You can look for him in the Atlantic, Pacific oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea. Regarding its habitat, the bluefin tuna lives in these tropical, subtropical and temperate waters, and prefers a moderate depth, that is around 1,000 meters from the surface of the sea water. The color of his body is metallic blue in the dorsal part, and the ventral part is silver. Thanks to their voracious appetite and varied diet, they reach enormous dimensions. It is the longest of all tuna species and his size can compete with the size of the Marlin. It measures between 2m and 2.5m in length and weighs between 225 and 250 kilograms.

The Big Eye Tuna “Thunnus obesus” are generally smaller than the bluefin tuna and larger than the yellowfin. They are long and lithe, have a dark metallic blue on the back on the dorsal side, and are almost white on their ventral sides. They can live up to 10 to 12 years. It is a type of tuna that lives in the warm and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, rarely found in the Mediterranean. It is a pelagic species that moves from the surface to 250 m deep in the ocean. Males can reach 250 cm in total length and 210 kg in weight.

The dorado is the species Coryphaena hippurus, a marine fish of the coriphaenidae or fish-dolphin family, distributed throughout the world’s oceans, tropical and subtropical waters. (Eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea). Elongated body, very flattened on the sides, with a head similar to that of a dolphin; the profile of the forehead leans more vertically the older the animal, the head profile of adult males is almost vertical. Wide mouth; prominent lower jaw set against skin; curved lateral line above pectoral fin. Long dorsal fin, extending from head almost to tail fin, with 55-65 structural rays. Caudal fin deeply forked, without swim bladder, back bluish green, underside silvery white, with a strong golden sheen. Dark and golden spots. Caudal fin yellow, the others are usually blue. Specimens have been described that reached 200 cm in length and 40 kilos in weight, although the usual thing is that they measure about 100 cm and weigh between 800 g and one kilo. Females are usually smaller.

The Blue Marlin “Makaira nigricans”, is a species of marlin that lives in temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, it is among the most recognizable fish. They are cobalt blue on top and silvery white underneath, and feature a pronounced dorsal fin and a long, lethal spear-shaped upper jaw. It is the largest of all the Atlantic billfish, and one of the largest fish in the world. Females, notably larger than males, can reach almost 15 feet in length and weigh more than 900 kilograms. Its average size is around 3.5 meters, with a weight of between 90 and 180 kilograms.

The white marlin “Kajikia albida” is a very beautiful fish that we can find in tropical and subtropical temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The best fishing destinations for white marlin are Portugal and the Strait of Gibraltar area in southern Spain, the Canary Islands, Madeira and Azores. They are also distributed in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The white marlin is smaller than the blue marlin and has a lighter color. Has a deep blue color of fin and it is more rounded than the one of the blue marlin. This has a beak-shaped dorsal fin. The white marlin can measure more than 2.5m in length and weight more than 80kg.

The amberjack “Seriola dumerili” is a marine fish with a regularly ossified skeleton and an elongated body. The base of the anal fin is clearly shorter than the base of the dorsal fin. His color is blue on the back and silvery-white on the belly. Largest fishes are old-pink color. His distribution is circunglobal, being found in the Indian Ocean, in the western Pacific and in the Atlantic, Canada to Brazil, and from the British Isles to Morocco, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea. It is typical of subtropical waters.
The Amberjack or Lemon Fish can reach 1.6 m in length and up to 60 kg in weight.

The wahoo, with the scientific name “Acanthocybium solandri”, is a species of fish of the Scombridae family in the order Perciformes. You can found him in the Atlantic, the Indian and the Pacific Oceans, including the Caribbean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. This fish is a popular one and its very similar to the mackerel. His color is generally a blueish silver gray, with vertical navy blue stripes. He is famous for being one of the fastest fish in the ocean, reaching speeds of up to 80 km per hour or more. Males can reach 250 cm in total length and 83 kg in weight.

(Grampus griseus)

Name in English: Risso’s Dolphin
Name in Spanish: Calderón Gris
Name in German:  Rundkopfdelfin
Size: 3.30-4.10m in length
Weight: 300-600Kg

Distribution and habitat: The pilot whale is a widely distributed species found in tropical and temperate waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The pilot whale is present in the Canary archipelago all year round. It is found in the waters of the continental shelf and nearby areas. It is a very gregarious and approachable species. It forms stable groups based on age and sex classes, highlighted by groups of adult males and adult females.

Descripción: The grey pilot whale, as its name suggests, is grey in colour, often with a large number of marks and scars that sometimes make it appear white. It has a robust body. The dorsal fin is fairly tall, measuring between 35 and 40 centimeters, and is located in the centre of the body.

(Globicephala macrorhynchus)

Name in English: Short-finned Pilot Whale
Name in Spanish: Calderón Tropical
Name in German:  Rundkopfdelfin
Size: 3.00-5.00m in length
Weight: 00-1500Kg Kg

Distribution and habitat: The pilot whale is a sociable species with a wide distribution in tropical and temperate waters around the world – generally in deep waters off the coast (between 300m and more than 1000m). It lives between 40° S and 50° N. The social unit is made up of groups of between 12 and 15 specimens, and sometimes many more, segregated by sexual status and degree of development.

Descripción: The pilot whale is black to dark gray in colour with a thick tail, bulbous head and a broad sickle-shaped dorsal fin. On the belly, the pilot whale has a light gray-white patch and a fiery mark behind the eye.

(Sterna hirundo)

Name in English: Common Tern
Name in Spanish: Charrán común
Name in German:  Flusseschwalbe
Size: 32-39 cm in length; 72-83cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: The common tern is a long-distance migrant species. It breeds on the Mediterranean coast, as well as in the Canary Islands – especially in the westernmost regions.

Descripción: A medium-sized bird with red beak and legs. It is similar to the pale pink tern, with a light grey back and wings, a white rump, and a white forked tail.

(Sterna dougalii)

Name in English: Roseate Tern
Name in Spanish: Charrán rosado
Name in German:  Rosenseeschwalbe
Size: 34-37 cm in length; 70-80 cm  wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: The roseate tern reproduces in large colonies, but is sparsely distributed among many places: the Azores, the wild islands, Madeira, and the Canary Islands.

Descripción: This tern is similar to others of the same species, although it has a black beak and a longer tail. In summer, it has a pinkish hue on the chest and belly.

(Delphinus delphis)

Name in English: Common Dolphin
Name in Spanish: DELFIN COMUN
Name in German: Gemeiner Delfin
Size: 1.70-2.50 in length
Weight: 70-110Kg Kg

Distribution and habitat: The common dolphin is an oceanic and cosmopolitan species. It is present in all the seas of both hemispheres with water temperatures ranging between 10 and 28° C, including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. It generally avoids polar regions, which fall below this temperature range. It is resident in the seas around the Canary Islands and Madeira.

Descripción: The common dolphin has a coloration of the dorsal part that varies from dark grey to dark brown and black. This coloration becomes lighter as we get closer to the tail. The belly of the common dolphin is creamy white and then light grey. The bill is very thin and can be distinguished from the head by a frontal groove. The dorsal crest is falciform and measures one third of the body.

(Steno bredanensis)

Name in English: Rough-toothed Dolphin
Name in Spanish: Delfín de Dientes Rugosos
Name in German: Rauzahndelfin
Size: 1.74-2.75m in length
Weight: 100-150Kg Kg

Distribution and habitat: The rough-toothed dolphin is widely distributed in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate waters in all three oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian). They are not very common, although there may be a greater concentration around oceanic islands and archipelagos. They are distributed in groups of between 6 and 10 specimens.

Descripción: The rough-toothed dolphin is very similar in appearance to its close relative the bottlenose dolphin. In this case, however, the forehead is slightly rounded, unlike most other dolphins, and extends forward with a particularly narrow beak of a pale color. The rough-toothed dolphin is dark grey on the back and sides, becoming increasingly lighter (white) as we reach the belly, which is marked by rather large and diffuse white spots.

(Stenella coeruleoalba)

Name in English: Striped Dolphin
Name in Spanish: Delfín Listado
Name in German: Grosse Tümmler
Size: 1.80-2.50m in length
Weight: 80-150Kg

Distribution and habitat: The striped dolphin is one of the most abundant cetaceans in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters around the world. It is undoubtedly the most common species in the Mediterranean. Among many places, the striped dolphin is resident in the Canary Islands and Madeira.

Descripción: The striped dolphin can be easily recognised by its slender silhouette and the characteristic pattern that adorns its flanks: a thin black line extends from the eye towards the anal region, while the white color that covers its flanks rises in the form of a brushstroke towards the dorsal fin. The bill is thin without being very elongated and is bicolour. The head and its dorsal part range in color from dark gray to black, while the belly is white.

(Stenella frontalis)

Name in English: Atlantic Spotted Dolphin
Name in Spanish: Delfín Moteado Atlántico
Name in German: Zügeldelfin
Size: 1.60-2.30m in length
Weight: 00-140Kg

Distribution and habitat: The Atlantic spotted dolphin is widespread in the tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic, and is relatively common throughout the western Atlantic, including the Gulf of Mexico Caribbean shores. They generally form large groups of more than 200 specimens and are very active behaviourally.

Descripción: Sturdy and compact, the spotted dolphin, as its name suggests, has numerous spots that cover most of its body. They have a long, robust face with white tipped lips. The upper part of its body is covered by a dark grey layer, with grey sides and a white belly.

(Tursiops truncatus)

Name in English: Bottlenose Dolphin
Name in Spanish: Delfín Mular
Name in German: Grosse Tümmler
Size: 2.50-3.81m in length
Weight: 150-650Kg

Distribution and habitat: The common bottlenose dolphin is one of the most common cetacean species worldwide. These dolphins are distributed throughout the planet, in the three main ocean basins and the Mediterranean Sea. Their coastal populations are usually small and they tend to be annual residents.

Descripción: A large and fairly robust dolphin, they are grey in colour and the males are usually older than the females. They have a short, well-defined snout that looks like an old-fashioned gin bottle.

(Pseudorca crassidens)

Name in English: False Killer Whale
Name in Spanish: Falsa Orca
Name in German: Kleine Schwertwal
Size: 4.00-6.00m in length
Weight: 1500-2000Kg

Distribution and habitat: The false orca is widely distributed in the tropical, subtropical and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are generally found offshore in relatively deep areas. They inhabit large groups of up to 100 individuals.

Descripción: The false killer whale has a uniform color (dark gray-black). It has a slim, streamlined, yet robust body. Its dorsal fin can measure about 30cm. As a distinctive feature, the false killer whale has a kind of curve and a bulge halfway between each of the fins.

(Larus michaelis atlantis)

Name in English: Yellow-legged Gull
Name in Spanish: Gaviota patiamarilla
Name in German: Mittelmeermöwen
Size: 52-58 cm in length; 120-140 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: This bird, among other places, breeds on the Atlantic coast and on some of the islands of Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands).

Descripción: The adult has a grey back and wings with a black tip and white terminal spots, and a robust bill and yellow legs. The juvenile is brown, and with a dark bill. An omnivorous bird, it follows fishing boats, but also surveys the coastline and visits landfills, inland farms, etc.

(Orcinus orca)

Name in English: Killer Whale
Name in Spanish: Orca
Name in German:  Schwertwal
Size: 7.00-9.80m in length
Weight: 4000-9000Kg

Distribution and habitat: The orca is the most cosmopolitan of all cetaceans and is surely the second most widespread mammalian species on the planet. They can appear in practically any marine habitat, but are more commonly found in cold water areas with high marine productivity (45). There have been sporadic and isolated sightings in the Canary Islands.

Descripción: The orca is distinguishable from dolphins by its large size, its robust body, the shape and size of the fins, and the colour pattern on the skin. The orca has a black back, a white chest and sides, and a white patch above and behind the eye. It has a robust body with a large dorsal fin up to almost 2 metres tall.

(Oceanodroma castro)

Name in English: Band-rumped Storm Petrel
Name in Spanish: Paíño de Madeira
Name in German: Madeiranwellenläufer
Size: 19-21 cm in length; 44-46 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: During the breeding season, this petrel is found for the most part on all the islands of Macaronesia (Spain and Portugal). Outside the breeding season, it is a strictly pelagic species whose distribution is unknown.

Descripción: It is a relatively large bird within the petrel group. The black petrel, with white rump, is similar to the European petrel, but a little larger.

(Hydrobates pelagicus)

Name in English: Storm Petrel
Name in Spanish: Paíño europeo
Name in German: Sturmschwalbe
Size: 15-16 cm in length; 37-41 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: Coming in from Madeira and visiting in the Canary Islands in the summer months, from June to October, the breeding season begins between May and June. The storm petrel typically nests in crevices between or under rocks, or burrow into the ground.

Descripción: The smallest of our seabirds, it is completely black, except for a broad white rump and a white band on the underside of the wings, and has a fluttering flight like a bat.

(Pelagodroma marina)

Name in English: White-faced Storm-Petrel
Name in Spanish: Paíño pechialbo
Name in German: Weißgesicht Sturmschwalbe
Size: 19-21 cm in length; 41-44 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: Summer visitors with colonies on the islands of Cape Verde, the Canary Islands and the wild islands, outside the breeding season, these pelagic birds have been seen on the east coast of North and South America and on the west coast of Central Africa.

Descripción: The white-faced storm petrel has a pale brown-grey back and rump, and wings with black feathers. Unlike others of its type, it has a white face with a dark mask over its eyes. It is one of the easiest to identify at sea, leaving its legs dangling in flight.

(Calonectris borealis)

Name in English: Cory’s Shearwater
Name in Spanish: Pardela atlántica
Name in German: Kanaren Sturmtaucher
Size: 50-56 cm in length; 118-126 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: The Atlantic shearwater breeds on the islands of the Azores and Madeira (> 85%), in Portugal, and on the Canary Islands (15%). Visiting between March and November, breeding begins in April off the coast of the barren islands. Most of the population are behaviourally pelagic outside of the breeding season, remaining out in the Atlantic ocean.

Descripción: The Atlantic shearwater is dark greyish brown on the upper part and white underneath, except for the edges of the wings which are dark. It has a yellowish bill with a brownish tip.

(Ardenna gravis)

Name in English: Great Shearwater
Name in Spanish: Pardela capirotada
Name in German: Grosse Sturmtaucher
Size: 43-51 cm in length; 105-122 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: The great shearwater is one of the few species that migrates from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. It is a migratory bird whose passage takes it throughout Macaronesia, crossing the Cape Verde Islands, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores between the months of August and October.

Descripción: The great shearwater has a blackish dark brown cap and a white posterior neck. The upper part of the wings and rump are of a brown colour. It has lighter feathers on the wings that produce a scale effect. It has a dark brown tail and a white underside, except for the variable brown spot on the belly (may be difficult to see). It has pink feet and legs and a dark gray bill.

(Puffinus baroli)

Name in English: Barolo’s Shearwater
Name in Spanish: Pardela de barolo
Name in German: Makaronesischer Sturmtaucher
Size: 26-28 cm in length; 58-61 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: The Barolo shearwater is also known as the North Atlantic shearwater or Macaronesian shearwater. It breeds on the Azores, the Desertas and wild islands, and the Canary Islands. The largest colonies occur on the wild islands.

Descripción: The Barolo shearwater, also known as the small shearwater, is similar to the Manx shearwater, although smaller and the eye is usually surrounded by white feathers.

The upper part of the plumage is generally blackish, while the lower parts are totally white.

The bill is black with a somewhat bluish base and the legs are variable in colour with black and pink areas.

(Puffinus puffinus)

Name in English: Manx Shearwater
Name in Spanish: Pardela pichoneta
Name in German: Atlantik Sturmtaucher
Size: 31-38 cm in length; 26-28 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: A summer visitor to the Canary Islands (La Palma and Tenerife) and the Azores, the Manx shearwater is found mainly in waters above the continental shelf and feeds mostly on small fish, crustaceans, and animal remains. It breeds in holes in heavily vegetated ravines between February and September.

Descripción: Of medium size compared to other shearwaters, it has a black upper part, with a lower part that is white with grey sides. The beak is black.

(Pterodroma deserta)

Name in English: Desertas Petrel
Name in Spanish: Petrel de Bugio
Name in German: eserta Sturmvogel
Size: 33-35 cm in length; 86-94 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: The Desertas petrel is a summer visitor to the island of Bugio, one of the three islands that make up the archipelago of the Desertas islands (Madeira). During this period, between the second of May and the first fortnight of November, is when they take the opportunity to nest. The two parents take turns incubating and then feeding the chick at night.

Descripción: A medium-sized, grey and white petrel, the upper part is grey with a dark hood and a dark “M” along the wings. The underside is white with part of the neck pale grey. Below the wings, it is predominantly dark (greyish brown). It is almost identical to the Madeira petrel, although the latter has a narrower size, shorter bill and shorter wings.

(Bulweria bulwerii)

Name in English: Bulwer’s Petrel
Name in Spanish: Petrel de Bulwer
Name in German: Bulwer Sturmvogel
Size: 25-29 cm in length; 67-73 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: The Bulwer’s petrel is a pantropical species and can be found in all three oceans (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian) outside of the breeding season. It is a marine and highly pelagic species. For that reason, it is most often found far from the coast, except during the nesting season. The breeding season runs from April to November, colonies forming on the coasts of the islands.

Descripción: A small seabird with the size and appearance somewhere between a petrel and a shearwater, it is entirely dark in color. Breeding colonies occur on rocks, in crevices and caves, under debris, and on cliffs, which are accessed at night. They are scarce and in decline.

(Pterodroma madeira)

Name in English: Zino’s Petrel
Name in Spanish: Petrel de Freira
Name in German: Zino Sturmvogel
Size: 32-33 cm in length; 80-96 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: Zino’s petrel is native to the island of Madeira and its population is restricted to the eastern mountainous area. It nests from the month of March (which is when it arrives) until the middle of October. As is the case with the Bugio petrel, the two members of the mating pair alternate incubation.

Descripción: As mentioned above, Zino’s petrel is almost identical to the Bugio petrel, only somewhat narrower, with a shorter beak and shorter wings. The other similar species is the Fea’s Petrel, which is practically identical, only slightly larger.

(Pterodroma feae)

Name in English: Fea’s Petrel
Name in Spanish: Petrel gon-gon
Name in German: Fea Sturmvogel
Size: 33-36 cm in length; 86-94 cm wingspan (with open wings)

Distribution and habitat: Fea’s petrel is a seabird with pelagic habits, except during the breeding season. It nests on four of the Cape Verde islands (Fogo, Santo Antón, San Nicólas and Santiago) in mountainous and rocky areas up to 2,200m. Egg laying takes place from mid-January to mid-February.

Descripción: A medium-sized, grey and white petrel, the upper part is grey with a dark hood and a dark “M” along the wings. The underside is white with part of the neck a pale gray. Below the wings, it is predominantly dark (greyish brown). According to the description, it is practically identical to the Bugio’s and Freira’s petrels. However, there are some subtle differences between them. The Fea’s petrel differs from the Bugio Petrel in the vocal notes. The Freira Petrel is narrower with a shorter bill and shorter wings than the Fea’s petrel.

(Balaenoptera physalus)

Name in English: Fin Whale
Name in Spanish: Rorcual común
Name in German: Finnwal
Size: 19.00-23.00m in length
Weight: 40000-50000Kg Kg

Distribution and habitat: The fin whale is found throughout the world, mainly, but not exclusively, in coastal waters of temperate and subpolar zones. They show some migration towards the poles in summer. There may be sightings of fin whales around the Canary Islands.

Descripción: The fin whale generally has a slender body. Both the upper part and its sides are a brownish grey and the belly is light to white. It has a broad, flattened snout which tapers to a point. It has a white marking on the right of the lower jaw, while the left side is black. It has a well-defined and delayed dorsal fin.

(Balaenoptera borealis)

Name in English: Sei Whale
Name in Spanish: Rorcual norteño
Name in German: Seiwal
Size: 17.00-18.00m in length
Weight: 25000Kg

Distribution and habitat: The sei whale is a cosmopolitan species, normally found offshore.

It is present in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and southern hemisphere. Fin whales migrate between tropical and subtropical latitudes in winter and to temperate and subpolar latitudes in summer.

Descripción: The sei whale has a “relatively” thin body. It is dark grey on the back and light grey to white on the belly. The dorsal fin is slightly further forward than on other fin whales. The sei whale has a thick tail and a small tail fin compared to its body.

(Balaenoptera edeni)

Name in English: Bryde’s Whale
Name in Spanish: Rorcual Tropical
Name in German: Rundkopfdelfin
Size: 13.50-15.50m in length
Weight: 12000-20000Kg

Distribution and habitat: Due to the fact that the number of species, subspecies or subpopulations of the Bryde’s whale is not completely resolved, and that the different forms are not easily distinguished in the sea, there is a bit of uncertainty regarding their geographical scope. However, it is easy to find them in warm, subtropical waters. They are rarely seen in large groups, but tend to congregate near food-abundant sites.

Descripción: The Bryde’s whale is a baleen whale that belongs to the same group as blue whales and humpbacks. Like other fin whales, it has no teeth, but has two rows of baleen plates. They are similar to the sei whale, although slightly elongated. They are dark grey on the dorsal part and white on the ventral part.

(Ziphius cavirostris)

Name in English: Cuvier’s beaked whale
Name in Spanish: Zifio común
Name in German: Cuvier-Schnabelwal
Size: 4.90-7.00m in length
Weight: 2000-3000Kg

Distribution and habitat: The Cuvier’s beaked whale is widely distributed in the high seas of all oceans, from the tropics to the polar regions in both hemispheres. It is found in many semi-enclosed areas of seas such as the Gulf of California. It is the only beaked whale that can be found in the Mediterranean Sea. It makes the largest known dives of any marine mammal, reaching up to 3,000 m in depth over a duration of two hours of immersion.

Descripción: The Cuvier’s beaked whale has a robust body. The skin is often covered with elongated, lighter marks that look like scars, but these marks can already be seen in newborns. They have a white head and dark spots around the eye.