Types of dolphins in Gibraltar Bay
By Ethan Roworth·Last checked 2 June 2026
Three species of dolphin live in the Bay of Gibraltar year-round. Common dolphins, striped dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins. Most tours show you all three on a single trip if you are lucky. Each looks and behaves differently. Here is what to look for, in the order you will most likely see them.
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
Behaviour
Most often seen on tours. Highly social, ride bow waves, leap frequently. Pod sizes can be large.
How to spot it
Yellow-cream patch on the side, dark X-shaped pattern. Smaller and slimmer than bottlenose.
From the boat
You will probably see these. They love riding the bow wave of the tour boats and will often follow alongside for several minutes.
Striped Dolphin
Stenella coeruleoalba
Behaviour
The acrobats. They leap higher and more often than the others. More elusive though, often dive deep for several minutes between sightings.
How to spot it
Two bold horizontal stripes along each side: one from the eye to the flipper, one from the eye to the anus. Dark grey on top.
From the boat
Less likely to ride bow waves than common dolphins. If you see acrobatic leaping in the distance, it is probably striped.
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Behaviour
Larger, slower, more deliberate than common or striped. Tend to swim near the surface in smaller groups.
How to spot it
Larger and more robust. Grey or dark grey, lighter underneath. Stubby beak (the "bottle"). More curved dorsal fin.
From the boat
You see fewer bottlenose at once but they are more interactive. Will swim alongside the boat at slow speeds and seem genuinely curious.
What about whales?
The Bay sometimes hosts pilot whales and the Strait of Gibraltar is a known migration route for sperm whales, fin whales, and orcas. These are not resident, but they pass through, particularly between July and September during the tuna migration. Some operators run dedicated whale-watching trips out into the Strait during this season.
Most standard dolphin tours stay inside the Bay so you will not see whales unless you book a specific Strait of Gibraltar whale tour.
FAQs
How many species of dolphins live in Gibraltar Bay? ▼
Three resident species: common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Whales are also occasionally seen, particularly pilot whales and sperm whales in the Strait.
Are the dolphins in Gibraltar Bay wild? ▼
Yes, all three pods are wild and resident, meaning they live in the Bay year-round and were not introduced. They are protected and trained operators do not feed or touch them.
What is the difference between common and bottlenose dolphins? ▼
Bottlenose are larger (2-4m), grey-backed, with a more curved dorsal fin. Common dolphins are smaller (1.5-2.5m) with a yellow-cream side patch and an X-shaped pattern. Striped dolphins are the most acrobatic, with bold horizontal stripes along the side.