We are very fortunate in Ireland to have at least 26 cetacean species present from the diminutive harbour porpoise all the way up to the largest animal that ever lived, the blue whale.
Some species are migratory and follow food here like humpback and fin whales off the southwest and south coast while others are resident year-round in special places like the Shannon Estuary where at least 145 bottlenose dolphins live.
A myriad of marine habitats occur in our waters from sheltered bays to the continental shelf and complex canyon systems affording each of our 25 specialised species a place to live, feed and breed which makes Irish waters one of the most important places in Europe for cetaceans.
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Posted in: Species
Atlantic White Sided Dolphin
Irish name: An deilf bhánchliathánach Atlantach
Latin name: Lagenorhynchus acutus
Size: 2.7 m
Diet: Whiting, blue whiting & squid
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Posted in: Species
Beluga Whale
Irish name: An Míol mór bán
Latin name: Delphinapterus leucas
Size: 3.5 – 5.5 m
Diet: Arctic cod and invertebrates
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Posted in: Species
Blainville’s Beaked Whale
Irish name: Míol mór socach Blainville
Latin name: Mesoplodon densirostris
Size: 4m
Diet: Squid and deep-water squid
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Posted in: Species
Blue Whale
Irish name: An Míol mór gorm.
Latin name: Balaenoptera musculus
Size: 21 – 28 m
Diet: Krill
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Posted in: Species
Bottlenose Dolphin
Irish name: An Deilf bholgshrónach
Latin name: Tursiops truncatus
Size: 2.5 – 3.8 m
Diet: Salmon, blue whiting, whiting, pollock
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Posted in: Species
Bowhead Whale
Irish name: Bowhead Whale
Latin name: Balaena mysticetus
Size: 19 m
Diet: Euphausiids, amphipod and copepod
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Posted in: Species
Common Dolphin
Irish name: An Deilf Choiteann
Latin name: Delphinus delphis
Size: 1.5 – 2.7 m
Diet: Horse Mackerel, sauries, herring, lantern fish and squid
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Posted in: Species
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale
Irish name: Míol mor socach Cuvier
Latin name: Ziphius cavirostris
Size: 5.5 - 7m
Diet: Squid, crustaceans and deep-water fish
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Posted in: Species
False Killer Whale
Irish name: An Chráin dhubh bhréige
Latin name: Pseudorca crassidens
Size: 5 – 6 m
Diet: Squid and large predatory fish such as tuna
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Posted in: Species
Gervais Beaked Whale
Irish name: Míol mór socach an tSrutha
Latin name: Mesoplodon europaeus
Size: 4.6 – 5.2m
Diet: Squid and deep-water fish
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Posted in: Species
Harbour Porpoise
Irish name: An Mhuc mhara
Latin name: Phocoena phocoena
Size: 1.45 – 1.5m
Diet: Herring, sprat, poor cod and whiting
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Posted in: Species
Humpback Whale
Irish name: An Míol mór dronnach
Latin name: Megaptera novaeangliae
Size: 14 – 17m
Diet: Sprat, herring and krill
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Posted in: Species
Killer Whale
Irish name: An Chráin dhubh
Latin name: Orcinus orca
Size: Males 9 m, females 7.9 m
Diet: Mackerel, herring, salmon, ocean sunfish, seals and other marine mammals
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Posted in: Species
Long-finned Pilot Whale
Irish name: An Píolótach fadeiteach
Latin name: Globicephala melas
Size: Males 6.7 m, females 5.7 m
Diet: Mackerel, dogfish, herring, cod and squid
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Posted in: Species
Minke Whale
Irish name: An Droimeiteach beag
Latin name: Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Size: 8.5 – 10m
Diet: Sprat, sand eel and herring
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Posted in: Species
North Atlantic Right Whale
Irish name: Ceartmhíol mór an tuaiscirt
Size: 16m
Diet: Copepods
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Posted in: Species
Northern Bottlenose Whale
Irish name: An Míol Mór Bolgshrónach
Latin Name: Hyperoodon ampullatus
Length: 6 – 10 m
Diet: Squid, herring and bottom invertebrates
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Posted in: Species
Pygmy Sperm Whale
Irish name: An Chaisealóid bheag
Latin name: Kogia breviceps
Size: 3 – 4.3 m
Diet: Squid
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Posted in: Species
Risso’s Dolphin
Irish name: An deilf liath
Latin name: Grampus griseus
Size: 3.2 m
Diet: Squid, octopus and cuttlefish
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Posted in: Species
Sowerby’s Beaked Whale
Irish name: Míol mór socach Sowerby
Latin name: Mesoplodon bidens
Size: 5.1 – 5.5 m
Diet: Squid and deep sea fish
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Posted in: Species
Sperm Whale
Irish name: An Chaisealóid
Latin name: Physeter macrocephalus
Size: 11 – 16 m
Diet: Squid, mesopelagic and demersal fish.
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Posted in: Species
Striped dolphin
Irish name: An deilf stríocach.
Latin name: Stenella coeruleoalba.
Size: 2.2 m.
Diet: Poor cod, whiting, sprat and squid.
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Posted in: Species
True’s Beaked Whale
Ainm Béarla: True's Beaked Whale
Ainm Laidine: Mesoplodon mirus
Méid: 5.4 m
Aiste Bia: Scuideanna, roinnt inveirteabrach agus éisc dhomhainmhara
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Posted in: Species
White-beaked dolphin
Irish name: An Deilf Shocbhán
Latin name: Lagenorhynchus albirostris
Size: 2.4 – 3.1 m
Diet: Whiting, hake and poor cod.
