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The ethical whale watching operator in Mirissa

Types of Cetaceans

01 · Cetacean profile

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whales are the largest animals known to have lived on Earth. The blue whales most often seen off Sri Lanka are pygmy blue whales.

Status in Sri Lanka: Resident

Subspecies Scientific name Adult length Adult weight
Antarctic blue whale Balaenoptera musculus intermedia 30–35 m 100–150 tonnes
North Atlantic blue whale Balaenoptera musculus musculus 25–30 m 80–130 tonnes
Pygmy blue whale Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda 20–25 m 60–90 tonnes

Diet

Almost entirely krill, which are tiny shrimp-like crustaceans. An adult may consume up to four tonnes of krill per day during the feeding season.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity is reached at approximately 5–15 years. Pregnancy lasts about 11–12 months, and usually one calf is born at a time.

Birth interval

Typically every 2–3 years.

Milk consumption

A blue whale calf drinks approximately 150–200 litres of milk per day.

Lifespan

Approximately 80–90 years.

Interesting Facts

  • Blue whales can dive to approximately 500 metres and may remain underwater for 10–20 minutes.
  • Their calls can travel for several miles through the ocean.
  • Despite their enormous size, their bodies are slim and streamlined for efficient long-distance travel.

Special note: Increasing disturbance from activities such as illegal whale snorkelling and whale diving has affected blue whale sightings in Sri Lankan coastal waters. The current sighting probability provided is 25%.

Listen to the Blue Whale Sound

02 · Cetacean profile

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The fin whale is the second-largest animal on Earth, surpassed only by the blue whale.

Status in Sri Lanka: Resident

Subspecies Scientific name Adult length
Northern fin whale Balaenoptera physalus physalus 18–20 m
Southern fin whale Balaenoptera physalus quoyi 20–22 m
Pygmy fin whale Balaenoptera physalus patachonica 16–18 m

Weight

Approximately 40–80 tonnes.

Length

Adult males are approximately 12–15 metres and adult females are approximately 15–18 metres.

Diet

Krill, squid and small schooling fish such as herring, capelin and anchovies. An adult may consume up to two tonnes of food per day during the feeding season.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity is reached at approximately 6–12 years. Pregnancy lasts about 11–12 months, and usually one calf is born.

Birth interval

Typically every 2–3 years.

Lifespan

Approximately 80–90 years.

Interesting Facts

  • It is one of the fastest large whales and can swim at speeds of up to 37 km/h.
  • The current sighting probability provided is 50%.
03 · Cetacean profile

Spinner Dolphin

Stenella longirostris

Spinner dolphins are famous for their spinning leaps and are among the most acrobatic dolphins in the ocean.

Status in Sri Lanka: Resident

Weight

Adults weigh approximately 50–80 kg.

Length

Adults measure approximately 1.3–2.4 metres. Males are usually larger than females.

Diet

Small fish, especially lanternfish, as well as squid and shrimp. They often feed at night in deep water.

Lifespan

Approximately 20–30 years.

Interesting Facts

  • They may spin several times while leaping above the surface.
  • They often travel in large pods containing hundreds or even thousands of dolphins.
  • They are a highly social and vocal species.
04 · Cetacean profile

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose dolphins are intelligent, curious and highly social marine mammals. They are among the best-known dolphin species.

Status in Sri Lanka: Resident

Weight

Adults weigh approximately 150–650 kg.

Length

Adults measure approximately 2–4 metres. Males are generally larger than females.

Diet

Fish such as mackerel, mullet and herring, along with squid, shrimp and crabs. They adapt their diet according to location.

Lifespan

Approximately 40–60 years. Females generally live longer than males.

Interesting Facts

  • They use echolocation clicks and whistles for communication and hunting.
  • They are social and playful and live in flexible groups called pods.
  • They can swim at speeds of up to 35 km/h.
05 · Cetacean profile

Pilot Whale

Globicephala macrorhynchus

There are two pilot whale species: the long-finned pilot whale and the short-finned pilot whale. The short-finned species is more common in tropical waters, including Sri Lanka.

Status in Sri Lanka: Migratory

Weight

Adult males weigh approximately 1,800–3,000 kg, while adult females weigh approximately 800–1,500 kg.

Length

Adult males measure approximately 5.5–7.2 metres and adult females measure approximately 4–5.5 metres.

Diet

Mainly squid, along with deep-sea fish and octopus.

Lifespan

Males live approximately 35–45 years and females live approximately 50–60 years.

Interesting Facts

  • Pilot whales are large dolphins rather than true whales.
  • They live in close family groups with strong social bonds.
  • They can dive deeper than 1,000 metres in search of squid.
06 · Cetacean profile

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale is a large member of the dolphin family.

Status in Sri Lanka: Migratory

Weight

Adult males weigh approximately 1–2 tonnes, while adult females weigh approximately 700–1,200 kg.

Length

Adult males measure approximately 5–6 metres and adult females measure approximately 4–5 metres.

Diet

Tuna, mackerel, squid and other large marine fish. They may occasionally prey on smaller dolphins.

Lifespan

Males may live approximately 50–60 years and females may live approximately 60–63 years.

Interesting Facts

  • They use echolocation and whistles to communicate and hunt.
  • They usually live in social pods of 10–50 individuals, although groups of more than 100 have been recorded.
  • They can swim at speeds of up to 30 km/h.
  • They occur in deep tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.
07 · Cetacean profile

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso’s dolphins are deep-water dolphins known for the natural scars that accumulate across their bodies as they age.

Status in Sri Lanka: Migratory

Weight

Adults weigh approximately 300–500 kg, although some may reach about 600 kg.

Length

Adults measure approximately 2.6–4 metres. Males are generally larger than females.

Diet

Mainly squid, with occasional octopus, cuttlefish and small fish. They often hunt at night or during deep dives.

Lifespan

Approximately 35–45 years.

Interesting Facts

  • Adults may appear pale because of scars caused by squid and interactions with other dolphins.
  • They are among the most heavily scarred dolphins in the ocean.
  • They usually travel in pods of 5–50 individuals, although larger groups may occur.
  • They are social and active and may be seen leaping or breaching.
08 · Cetacean profile

Killer Whale (Orca)

Orcinus orca

Despite its name, the killer whale is the largest member of the dolphin family. Orcas are apex predators whose diet varies between populations.

Status in Sri Lanka: Migratory

Weight

Adult males weigh approximately 3.6–8 tonnes, while adult females weigh approximately 1.5–4 tonnes.

Length

Adult males measure approximately 6–8 metres and adult females measure approximately 5–7 metres.

Diet

Fish, seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, penguins, sharks, rays and, in some populations, other whales.

Lifespan

Males commonly live 30–40 years and may reach about 60 years. Females commonly live 50–60 years and may reach 80–90 years.

Interesting Facts

  • Orcas occur in oceans around the world, from polar waters to tropical seas.
  • They can swim at speeds of up to 56 km/h.
  • They live in close family groups called pods and use echolocation and sophisticated communication to hunt and navigate.
09 · Cetacean profile

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale and the largest toothed predator in the world. It is recognised by its massive head and rounded forehead.

Status in Sri Lanka: Migratory

Weight

Adult males weigh approximately 35–57 tonnes, while adult females weigh approximately 12–15 tonnes.

Length

Adult males measure approximately 16–20 metres and adult females measure approximately 11–12 metres.

Diet

Large squid, including giant and colossal squid, as well as octopus, deep-sea fish, sharks and rays.

Lifespan

Approximately 60–70 years.

Interesting Facts

  • Sperm whales can dive deeper than 2,000 metres.
  • They can remain underwater for more than 60 minutes while hunting.
  • They use powerful echolocation clicks to locate prey in complete darkness.
  • They occur in oceans worldwide, from tropical to polar waters.
10 · Cetacean profile

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whales are known for their long pectoral fins, complex songs and long-distance migrations.

Status in Sri Lanka: Migratory

Weight

Approximately 25–40 tonnes.

Length

Adult males measure approximately 13–16 metres and adult females measure approximately 14–17 metres. Their pectoral fins may reach one-third of their body length.

Diet

Krill, small crustaceans and schooling fish such as anchovies, sardines, herring, capelin and sand lance.

Lifespan

Approximately 45–100 years.

Interesting Facts

  • They occur in all major oceans and spend much of the year feeding in cold, nutrient-rich waters.
  • Males are famous for producing complex songs during the breeding season.
  • Some groups use bubble-net feeding, creating a ring of bubbles to concentrate fish.
  • They may migrate up to 8,000 kilometres each way.

Special note: Humpback whales are occasionally seen during migration through the northern Indian Ocean. Sightings around Sri Lanka are uncommon, with the highest chance generally from December to March.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keeping a safe distance and never chasing, surrounding or disturbing cetaceans helps protect whales and dolphins and supports responsible wildlife tourism in Mirissa.
Possible sightings include blue whales, fin whales, sperm whales, humpback whales, pilot whales, killer whales and false killer whales. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Although it is called a killer whale, the orca is the largest member of the dolphin family.
Depending on the subspecies, adult blue whales may reach approximately 20–35 metres and weigh 60–150 tonnes.
Bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins and Risso’s dolphins are among the species that may be encountered.
Sperm whales can dive deeper than 2,000 metres and may remain underwater for more than 60 minutes while hunting.

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