Their expression just makes you want to smile. Location was between Ventura Harbor and Anacapa Island in California. The Risso is one of the larger members of the dolphin family. They have a rounded head more similar to the pilot whale. They are born light gray and darken with age. The extensive white scarring on this individual might come from skirmishes with other Risso’s dolphins, squid bits or parasites.
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scubarocksdb, ScottS101, nikon.nutter, and 32 other people added this photo to their favorites.
ScottS101 57 months ago | reply
This one looks very dark.
TrekLightly 57 months ago | reply
Hi Scott,
This individual was the darkest and most scared in the pod of about a dozen. Its back was lighter in color then the underside that you see here. Do you know if this is common? Can this be caused by the sun bleaching its back?
You have some fantastic shots on your Flickr account. Thanks for the fav.
nikon.nutter 57 months ago | reply
Wow!! this a stunning capture! wonderful to see them breaching like this!!
TrekLightly 57 months ago | reply
Thanks Mandy,
This guy did a full breach, completly out of the water, just seconds before this shot.
grampus.griseus 56 months ago | reply
Nice, very nice shot. Love those animals. We have lots of them too overhere at the Azores. Cheers
Chris Vees (priorité maison) 56 months ago | reply
Very nice shot ! Beautiful breaching !
ScottS101 56 months ago | reply
Trek, All I can tell you is that their coloration varies greatly. I would guess the sun would darken them rather than bleach them.
Pat Ulrich 55 months ago | reply
wow - how cool!
sometimes silent e 54 months ago | reply
Wow! This is great! I wonder if a Risso dolphin is what I saw one day out sailing out in that area.
TrekLightly 54 months ago | reply
Thank you Chris, Scott, Pat and Eileen for the nice comments. Check out grampus.griseus flickr page for some amazing Risso photos. Eileen, there are a good number of Risso’s dolphins in the Channel Islands area so you probably saw one. They tend to be shy and do not come too close to boats so when you do see one it’s a real treat.
faultier13 51 months ago | reply
Great Risso. I love them.
Trish A38 50 months ago | reply
Wonderful photo, love the smile too:)
gastonCc 49 months ago | reply
Amazing!!
phrenophile 48 months ago | reply
unreal coloration.
AnNamir™ c[_] 45 months ago | reply
\\;-)
Thanks for playing the "MOST/LEAST" contest at
...-Wink's Place-...
rosewithoutathorn84 38 months ago | reply
What a cute little face!
Jill Clardy 34 months ago | reply
Spectacular image (seen in Wink's Place)
Hilton Lebarbenchon 33 months ago | reply
So beautiful!
GPR06 20 months ago | reply
Fantastic action photos
pendeho 13 months ago | reply
Amazing shot. Never seen one of these guys before.