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<h2><font size=5 color="#4a4a4a" face=Georgia><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Risso's
dolphins make presence known in channel <o:p></o:p></span></font></h2>
<p class=byline><font size=1 color="#565656" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt'>Peter Howorth <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1
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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1
color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>Risso's dolphin breach: This Risso's dolphin
bursts through the surface like a missile from a submarine. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1
color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>PETER HOWORTH PHOTOS <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1
color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>Risso's dolphin eye: Risso's dolphins love to
watch people as much as we love to watch them. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1
color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#464646'>Risso's dolphin surfacing: This Risso's dolphin
sends a crystalline bubble to the surface as it emerges to breathe. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
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<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>July 20, 2008 6:22 AM<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=1 color="#464646"
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Santa
Barbara</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font size=1 color="#464646"
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>
has many species of small whales, but we often don't think of them that
way. Instead, we think of many of them as dolphins or porpoises rather than
as small whales.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Conversely, killer whales and pilot
whales are just large dolphins, although few people realize this. In truth,
they are all odontocetes, or toothed whales.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Risso's dolphins, superficially similar
to the pilot whale in shape, are among the more interesting of the small
cetaceans. They are light gray or white when born, then turn chocolate
brown to almost black as adolescents. As they mature, they again turn
white, although the fins have darker shadings. They also often have dark
patches around the eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Mature Risso's dolphins are covered with
long scratch marks. Scientists assumed the beaks of squid, major prey for
the species, caused these. A closer inspection often reveals that the scars
are evenly spaced, however, suggesting fracases with other dolphins, either
of the same species or perhaps from other species.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Risso's dolphins can be aggressive
toward other species, including even large whales. They have been observed
bow-riding the frontal wake of blue whales, zipping back and forth and
causing the whales to flee. On one memorable occasion, I observed an
exasperated blue whale flip a Risso's dolphin end over end with a toss of
its huge head. The dolphin hastily abandoned the chase.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Following the 1982-83 El Niño event,
Risso's dolphins moved into <st1:place w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place>
waters in numbers, occupying a niche once held by short-finned pilot
whales. One researcher theorized that the Risso's dolphins might have ousted
the pilot whales through competition for squid, primary prey for both
species. Other species of marine mammals also changed their distribution
following the El Ni0x96o event, however.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>After the El Niño, years went by with
few if any sightings of pilot whales. Over the past several years, they
have turned up in larger numbers, although nothing approaching the numbers
seen in the past. Their population trend in this region is unknown.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Like pilot whales, Risso's dolphins have
no noticeable beak. Their snout is blunt and their head bulbous, much like
that of the pilot whale. Risso's dolphins are quite large, growing to 13
feet long and weighing several hundred pounds. Calves are just under 5 feet
long at birth.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Risso's dolphins are often seen off the
north <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">shore</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Santa Cruz Island</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>,
especially in late spring, summer and early fall, when squid are prevalent.
Unfortunately, their preference for squid has led to competition with squid
fishers. According to NOAA Fisheries, Risso's dolphins with fresh squid in
their stomachs have turned up dead from bullet wounds.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Though generally not as gregarious
toward boats as are common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins, Risso's
dolphins sometimes do ride the bow waves of small craft, particularly if
the boats are not moving fast.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Although individuals are sometimes seen,
Risso's dolphins usually travel in groups of 25 to several hundred.
Sometimes they travel abreast in a long line, possibly part of their hunting
strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Risso's dolphins can put on quite a
show, with some individuals racing at high speeds through the waves,
slapping their flukes down on the surface and making a loud noise, or
leaping completely out of the water.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>One of the most endearing habits of this
species is lifting its head out of the water and making definite eye
contact with people in boats. Other species often roll on their sides while
bow riding, gazing up at the people above, but Risso's dolphins observe
folks directly.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p><font size=1 color="#464646" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#464646'>Makes you wonder if they enjoy looking
at us as much as we enjoy looking at them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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