10 Marine Animals to Discover Around Tenerife 

The island of Tenerife, situated in the Canary Islands archipelago, offers a diverse range of marine life encounters. Its waters are inhabited by various species, including the Short-Finned Pilot Whale, the Common Dolphin, and the Angelshark. This article will explore ten marine animals that can be found in the waters surrounding Tenerife, highlighting their unique characteristics.

Green Sea Turtle

The Green Turtle, named for the greenish hue of its cartilage and fat (not its shell!), thrives in the tropical and subtropical waters around Tenerife and the Canary Islands. These incredible creatures, the sole members of the genus Chelonia, migrate vast distances between their feeding grounds and nesting sites. While they use beaches for laying their eggs, they spend most of their lives in the ocean, particularly in lush seagrass meadows.

Common Stingray

The Common Stingray is another interesting marine creature one might see in the waters around Tenerife. They are common in coastal tropical and subtropical waters but are becoming progressively more threatened by overfishing and climate change. They are flat, grey/brown, and have broad bodies. Their mouths are located on the ventral, or bottom, side and have modified placoid scales for teeth. 

Lizard Fish

Lizard Fish are aptly named for their somewhat lizard-like heads. These small, slender fish are typically grey, with a mottled pattern of white and black splotches that extends onto their heads. This camouflage allows them to blend seamlessly into the sandy seafloor of their tropical and subtropical coastal habitats. Don’t be fooled by their small size, though. Lizard Fish are equipped with numerous sharp teeth, some even located on their tongues.

Angelshark 

Tenerife’s waters offer a rare glimpse of the critically endangered Angelshark, a unique shark with a flattened body resembling a ray. Once common throughout the Northeast Atlantic, these creatures have been decimated by industrial fishing practices, with the Canary Islands now serving as one of their last strongholds. They camouflage themselves in the seabed by day and become more active at night, sometimes even congregating in large groups.

Byrde’s Whale

Tenerife’s waters offer a unique opportunity to witness Bryde’s Whales, a type of baleen whale that can reach up to 49 feet long (15 m). These gentle giants, identifiable by their two blowholes and rows of baleen plates, are often spotted during whale watching excursions in the Teno-Rasca Marine Protected Area. These whales feed near the surface, joining forces with dolphins and seabirds in a competition for food.

Common Dolphin

The waters around Tenerife offer a fantastic opportunity to encounter the playful Common Dolphin. They are easily identified by their dark backs, light bellies, and distinctive hourglass patterns. As the only member of the genus Delphinus, they prefer areas with strong currents and can travel incredible distances, often in pursuit of schools of fish like herring, sardines, and anchovies. Highly social animals, Common Dolphins are rarely seen alone, demonstrating their cooperative nature as they travel and hunt together.

Parrotfish 

Parrotfish are a diverse group of around 90 species found in the Indo-Pacific region, including the waters around Tenerife and the Canary Islands. These fish are commonly associated with coral reefs and are known for their vibrant colors, which change throughout their life cycle. Parrotfish range in size from a few inches to several feet long. Their name comes from their tightly packed teeth, which form a beak-like structure on the outer surface of their jaws.

Short-Finned Pilot Whale

The Canary Islands, and particularly Tenerife, offer a unique opportunity to encounter the Short-finned Pilot Whale. These social creatures, with their distinctive stocky build and bulbous heads, are actually dolphins closely related to killer whales! Tenerife boasts one of the few resident pilot whale populations in the world, with over 400 individuals identified in its southern waters. Known for their playful behavior, these speedy swimmers hold the record for swimming speed at depth, reaching up to 9 meters per second.

Basking Shark

The Basking Shark is the second-largest living shark after the Whale Shark. These gentle giants, reaching lengths of up to 26 feet, are often spotted in the temperate waters around Tenerife. Their grey-brown, mottled skin and distinctively large mouths make them easily recognizable. As filter feeders, they glide through the water with their mouths wide open, straining plankton and small organisms through specialized gill rakers. Their name comes from their tendency to swim near the surface, seemingly basking in the sunlight.

Common Smooth-Hound Shark

The waters around Tenerife are home to the Common Smooth-Hound shark, a slender species often found near the surface. This grey-brown shark, with its lighter underside, is sadly listed as “Endangered” by the IUCN. In the Canary Islands, known locally as “cazón,” it has a long history of being fished and consumed in the region. While not currently protected, there are concerns about the sustainability of its fishery due to the overall decline of coastal fish populations in the Canary Islands.

Hammerhead Shark

With their distinctively shaped heads, Hammerhead Sharks are a captivating sight in the waters around the Canary Islands. These sharks, belonging to the family Sphyrnidae, are often found along coastlines and continental shelves. While they often gather in schools during the day, they become solitary hunters at night, seeking out their prey in the depths.

FAQs