Risso's Dolphin

Scientific name: Grampus griseus

Gaelic name: Deilf-risso

Physical Description

Risso's Dolphin are dark grey and their body is often covered by white scars. Those scars are cause by the teeth of other Risso's Dolphins and by fights with squid.

Their head is very round like Long Finned Pilot Whales. They don't have beak. Like all the dolphins, they have teeth but only 4 to 14 ones located in the front of the lower jaw.

Risso's Dolphins measure 3 to 4 metres which is the length of a Mini car. They weigh as much as 500 kg which is as heavy as 17 sheep.

Feeding

They eat crustaceans and sometimes small fish, but they prefer squid!

Behaviour

They travel in pods of 2 to 50 individuals. They are often seen with other dolphin species as Bottlenose Dolphins and Pilot Whales.

They swim slowly but can also be very active and surf in waves!

Some groups are shy but others can come close to the boats.

Threats

Risso's Dolphins are threatened by hunting and pollution. They can be killed by Killers Whales (Orcas) and sharks. They can live 20 to 40 years.

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