Bottlenose dolphins are a resident species that we see all year on Madeira dolphin and whale watching tours.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

The Bottlenose dolphin is a resident cetacean species here in Madeira. They can be seen on our dolphin and whale watching tours all year but observations peak during August. Bottlenose dolphins are the largest of the beaked dolphin species and we often see them mixing with other cetacean species like the resident Pilot whales of Madeira.

Bottlenose dolphins are a resident species in Madeira that can be seen all year round.

Species Information

The Bottlenose dolphins we see in Madeira are resident groups.

  • Length: up to 3.9 meters

  • Weight: up to 600 kg

  • Lifespan: up to 60 years

  • Diet: a wide variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans

Sightings data on the resident Bottlenose dolphins seen on our Madeira boat tours.

Sightings

Sightings of the Bottlenose dolphins are frequent and can be as different as night and day. Some times the dolphins are quiet, they mind their own business and slowly transit along the coast. Other times they can be very active, swimming over to the boat and our delighted guests, bow riding and leaping as they socialize. Some of the local residents we can actually identify by their unusual dorsal fins – it’s like seeing an old friend!

Bottlenose Dolphin Sightings Data