About Risso’s dolphins

Risso’s dolphins, which are named after the man who first described them, are rarely seen inshore and normally inhabit deep temperate waters worldwide. This species of dolphin (Grampus griseus) is one of the larger species of dolphin and are often compared to pilot whales because of their similar head and body shapes. In the Gulf of Mexico, they have been seen along the continental shelf and continental slope.

Risso’s dolphins are unique because of the white scarring that increases as they get older. Wild dolphins often receive scars after normal interactions with other dolphins, predators and sometimes even their prey. In other species, the scars are colored over with the animal’s natural pigment. But in Risso’s dolphins, the pigment does not return to the scarred area and, over time, the animal takes on a lighter or even white color.