White-beaked Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus albirostris

Main Characteristics 

White-beaked Dolphins are by far the most common dolphins in Icelandic waters. They have a robust body and a fairly short thick beak. The colouration is diffuse and highly variable the sides and front part of the back are black or dark and the underside is light grey. Light patches are on the sides and can reach up to the back behind the dorsal fin. The dorsal fin is grey, tall and strongly falcate (curved backwards) and can be used for identification. The beak is often entirely white. There are 23 to 28 pairs of teeth in the upper jaw, and 22 to 28 pairs of teeth in the lower jaw.  

Behaviour 

White-beaked Dolphins normally live in pods of less than 10 animals. Occasionaly as many as 1500 animals can be seen in one group, these are thought to be gatherings of many pods feeding. White-beaked Dolphins are attracted to  to powered vessels and are active bow-riders, but loose interest rather quickly. White-beaked Dolphins have been seen in the company of the great whales such as Fin Whales, Humpback Whales and Orcas.

Distribution and Migration 

White-beaked Dolphins are migratory species that prefer the high-latitude waters of the North Atlantic, including the northern areas of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the North Sea. White-beaked Dolphins are more common in Europe than Northe America. During summertime, they prefer arctic and subarctic waters with ice-covers or at least ice-infested.    

Hunting and Population Size 

White-beaked Dolphins are occasionally killed by hunters in Greenland, and the Faeroe Island. Some mortality occurs in fishing gear. Some hunting occured in Iceland, animals that were trapped in ice were spheared. The population size is estimated to be 10.000 - 12.000 animals.

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