There are plenty of dolphins spotted every day round Pemba. Dolphins need food, and they find an abundant source around the shallow depths along the shorelines and around the islands surrounding Pemba. The location is ideal for certain species that feed ideally in these locations. There are principally 5 species of dolphins seen.
• Indo pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa Chinensis) • Spotted Dolphin (S.Attentuata) • Common Dolphin (Delphinus Delphis) • Spinner Dolphin (Stenella Longirostris) • Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Aduncus)
Dolphins swim in small social groups known as pods. Size of pods range from as little as 3-5 to huge pods of 100 or more. In the Pemba channel there are pods of up to 400 spinner dolphins. Sometimes different species of dolphins join up and make a "super pod". Mothers with calves swim near the center of the pod. Indo pacific groups are even smaller, with 4/5 as an average size. Young males may form their own pod and may be joined by juvenile females. Sometimes adult males may wander off temporarily.
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