Atlantic spotted dolphin

Photo: scientik · © all rights reserved

Atlantic spotted dolphins are a constant companion species in the Faial-Pico channel from spring through autumn, often bowriding dive boats and interacting with in-water swimmers. Juveniles are unspotted at birth and develop their characteristic speckled pattern progressively — the degree of spotting is a reliable age indicator. These dolphins are among the most studied cetaceans in the world due to long-running research programs in the Bahamas and Azores tracking individual animals across decades.