Living in and Around the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea is bordered by 21 countries. Over 17,000 species make their home by the sea.

Bottlenose dolphins are the kind you find on TV and in aquarium water parks. They have dark gray bodies, pale bellies, and short beaks. They always seem to be smiling. These are the most intelligent and sociable animals on Earth. Bottlenose dolphins swim in groups and rely on companionship. They enjoy salmon, squid, and crustaceans.

Cuvier’s beaked whales have dark gray bodies with light-colored heads and bellies. Their bodies are stout, with short beaks, two throat grooves, and sloped heads. These are big creatures weighing in at 3,000 kg. Usually their bodies are covered with scratches or scars, which are associated with their aggression, mating, and active way of life. Cuvier’s beaked whales swim in groups of 2 to 7 and linger offshore to feed on fish and squid.

Fin whales are referred to as “greyhounds of the sea.” They are the second largest animals on Earth and commonly found in the Mediterranean. These whales are gray with pale bellies. Fin whales enjoy the high seas for catching food like krill, schools of fish, and crustaceans. They feed on about 2000 kg of krill a day.

Harbor porpoises are also called “puffing pigs” because they have sneeze-like breathing. They resemble whales with round heads and no beaks. These creatures are recognizable by their small triangular-shaped fin on their backs. They usually swim alone and live off small schooling fish, squid, octopus, and sand eels.

Leatherback turtles are the biggest turtles on Earth. They are not always seen in the Mediterranean but can be spotted in the Aegean Sea, the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the Strait of Sicily. Their favorite prey is jellyfish but also feed on crabs, small fish, and other gelatinous invertebrates.

Loggerhead turtles are the most common type of sea turtles in the Mediterranean. They have large heads and powerful jaws and are reddish brown with a thick, smooth shell. They adopt a solitary lifestyle and migrate frequently. These carnivorous turtles have strong jaws that allow them to feed on clams, crabs, shellfish, jellyfish, and fish. They also have a strong protective shell that is thick enough to withstand shark attacks.

Long-finned pilot whales are classified as dolphins and are the second largest of the dolphin family. These whales have globose heads and two very long flippers. They are mostly black or dark gray with white chests. Pilot whales are very sociable and can be seen in groups of more than ten. They can be seen at the surface poking out their heads or splashing their tails. They dive as deep as 600 m for about 15 minutes at nigh and use echolocation for hunting. They enjoy deep sea squid, octopus, small pelagic fish, and other cephalopods.

Mediterranean monk seals are among the rarest sea mammals on Earth. They are the only seals that live in the Mediterranean. These seals can be seen on isolated coasts in the Mediterranean, mostly around the Madeira Islands of Portugal and Cape Blanc. Mediterranean monk seals have brown bodies with yellowish bottoms. They enjoy dining on octopus, mollusks, sea breams, and red mullets.

Pufferfish (pictured above) are also referred to as blowfish. They are omnivores that swim clumsily. They can open clams and shellfish with their four teeth and can grow up to 24 in. When predators are around, they quickly become balls by consuming large amounts of water and air. Their skin is thick and rough but elastic enough to stretch when inflating. They have round heads and come in a variety of colors, such as gray, blue, white, and yellow. These species contain a toxic substance called tetrodotoxin, which is lethal to fish and humans.

Risso’s dolphins are unlike other dolphins because they don’t have beaks. Leading an active life, their bodies get covered by scars and scratches. They have bulbous square heads and white chests. These dolphins swim in groups of up to 45 and are very social animals. They hunt in deep waters for squid, cuttlefish, shrimp, and prawns.

Short-beaked common dolphins are also called “hourglass dolphins.” These are multi-colored dolphins that get their name from the hourglass shape of their bodies. They are dark gray with pale yellow and light gray sides. They hunt offshore and along coasts for food, with a preference for schools of fish and squid. These dolphins swim in large groups of between 50 to 70 and are acrobatic animals, jumping up high out of the water.

Sperm whales are the biggest whales in the ocean. They have enormous square heads and the largest brains among other creatures on Earth. These whales have spatulate flippers, dorsal fins, and two pectoral fins. They hunt deep in the depths and feed on squid, octopus, fish, crustaceans, and sharks.