Risso's dolphin

Grampus griseus · Risso's dolphin is a large, heavily scarred dolphin that lives in cold, temperate and tropical waters of oceans nearly worldwide.

Also called Grey Dolphin, Gray Grampus, White-headed Grampus.

Risso's dolphin
Photo: TurionTzukosson, CC BY-SA 4.0
Risso's dolphin
Photo: "Mike" Michael L. Baird, CC BY 2.0
Risso's dolphin
Photo: TurionTzukosson, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
OrderArtiodactyla
FamilyDelphinidae
GenusGrampus
SpeciesGrampus griseus

Where it lives

Oceans worldwide from cold-temperate to tropical waters, mostly along continental shelf edges.

Fun facts

  • Risso's dolphin is the largest species called a "dolphin", weighing 300–500 kg (660–1,100 lb).
  • Older Risso's dolphins look mostly white because their many scars never regain their color.
  • To dive deeper than 600 m (2,000 ft), Risso's dolphins breathe out their lungs and spin to drop almost straight down.
  • All of a Risso's dolphin's teeth are in the lower jaw, and most have just two to seven pairs.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).