White-beaked dolphins have been a focus species of our research since 2007, just like the humpback whales and minke whales. We mainly collect our data for them in Faxaflói but that is not always easy, as the white-beaked dolphins can be so fast in their movements that getting a photo of their dorsal fin at the right angle and at the right time requires quite a bit of practice.
"White-beaked dolphins acquire nicks and notches, which are parts missing out of their dorsal fins, throughout their live. Alongside with these come scars, different pigmentations or even malformations. All these are visual features that are unique to each individual and help us identify them simply through taking photos whenever we encounter them. Nicks and notches can have numerous causes: interactions with other dolphins, for example. Even when playing, they can be quite rough with one another, not hesitating to use their teeth on each other. That is also how scars which we call tooth rakes, happen."
Learn more about how we collexct data on the white-beaked dolphins in our waters in this highly educational article written by our head naturalist Sabrina.