HUMPBACK WHALE

Scientific name . Megaptera novaeangliae

​

Length . 13 to 16 metres

​

Weight . 20 to 40 tons

​

Frequency and distribution . Common between July and November in all archipelagoes except in the Marquesas Islands.

​

Characteristics . Black color on the back and clear color on the belly, on the flanks and the inside of the fins. Very large pectoral fins and hunchback. Regularly gets its flukes above sea surface before diving. Straight blow looking like a bush.

KILLER WHALE

Scientific name . Orcinus orca

​

Length . 4.6 to 9 metres

​

Weight . 3 to 10 tons

​

Frequency and distribution . Occasional. More frequent in the Marquesas Islands.

​

Characteristics . Stubby body, large dorsal fin sickle to triangular, conic head. Black and white. The largest dolphin. Polynesian pods usually contain 2 to 10 individuals.

RISSO'S DOLPHIN

Scientific name . Grampus griseus

​

Length . 2.8 to 3.8 metres

​

Weight . 250 to 680 kilos

​

Frequency and distribution . Common offshore in all archipelagoes.

​

Characteristics . Rounded head, no beak, light grey. Dark grey body, bleaching when aging, covered with scars. Pods from 5 individuals to more than 50. Sometimes follow boats.

COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN

Scientific name . Tursiops truncatus

​

Length . 2.5 to 4 metres

​

Weight . 200 to 500 kilos

​

Frequency and distribution . Common in the North East of the Tuamotu and in the Marquesas Islands.

​

Characteristics . Dark grey back, greyish sides, clear underside. Stubby body and thick rostrum. Small pods sometimes mixed with other species of cetaceans. It comes close to boats and plays with them.

PANTROPICAL SPOTTED DOLPHIN

Scientific name . Stenella attenuata

​

Length . 1.6 to 2.5 metres

​

Weight . 90 to 120 kilos

​

Frequency and distribution . Common in the Marquesas Islands.

​

Characteristics . Spotted grey robe, pointed fins, white tip of rostrum. Newborns entirely grey with white underside. Gregarious, fast acrobatic swimmer, comes close to boats.

SPERM WHALE

Scientific name . Physeter macrocephalus

​

Length . 11 to 20 metres

​

Weight . 10 to 50 tons

​

Frequency and distribution . Common offshore in all archipelagoes.

​

Characteristics . Large rectangular head, hunchback, small pectoral fins, brown grey wrinkled skin, blow inclined forward at 45°. Gets its flukes above sea surface before diving. When at the surface it looks like a big log adrift.

SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE

Scientific name . Globicephala macrorhynchus

​

Length . 5 to 7 metres

​

Weight . 1 to 3.5 tons

​

Frequency and distribution . Common in all archipelagoes.

​

Characteristics . Stubby body, bulbous forehead, bended fins. Dark brown robe, white tie. Curious it comes close to boats, shows its head and follows whales. Often followed by oceanic sharks.

MELON-HEADED WHALE

Scientific name . Peponocephala electra

​

Length . 2.2 to 2.7 metres

​

Weight . 120 to 275 kilos

​

Frequency and distribution . Common in the Marquesas Islands.

​

Characteristics . Dark body with darker mantle on the back, white line on the underside, white lips. No beak, pointed fins. Very gregarious, it is found both offshore and close to the shore, likes to play with boats.

ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHIN

Scientific name . Steno bredanensis

​

Length . 2.1 to 2.7 metres

​

Weight . 100 to 160 kilos

​

Frequency and distribution . Common in the Society archipelago.

​

Characteristics . Marble grey dorsal area with large clear spots on the sides, pink white underside. Flat forehead. Pods of 10 to 50 individuals, often swimming in parallel. Jumps and comes close to boats.

SPINNER DOLPHIN

Scientific name . Stenella longirostris

​

Length . 1.5 to 2.2 metres

​

Weight . 60 kilos

​

Frequency and distribution . Common in all archipelagoes.

​

Characteristics . Thin elongated rostrum. Dark dorsal area, light grey on the sides, white or pale pink underside. Triangular dorsal fin. Schools of 15 to more than 100 individuals. Spinner dolphins are famous for their acrobatic and aerial behaviors.