Madeira Wild Life

Discover the hidden secrets of Madeira's Wild Life

Recent Posts

A Blue Shark of Madeira swimming in the bright blue atlantic ocean.
  • Sharks, Sharks & Rays

Blue Sharks of Madeira: The Most Common Oceanic Shark of the Atlantic

Far beyond Madeira’s dramatic cliffs and coastal villages lies a vast and vibrant marine ecosystem. In these deep Atlantic waters lives one of the...

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A Thornback Skate Ray surrounded by seaweed swimming upwards revealing it's eyes and mouth.
  • Sharks & Rays, Skates

Thornback Skate: The Hidden Ray of the Atlantic Seafloor

While many people associate marine wildlife with dolphins, whales, or sharks swimming near the ocean surface, much of the Atlantic’s biodiversity exists quietly on...

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Common Tern standing on a dark rocky cliff against a clear blue sky along Madeira’s coast.
  • Seabirds

Common Tern (Garajau-comum): The Elegant Seabird of Madeira’s Coast

Along the cliffs, rocky islets, and open waters surrounding Madeira Island, one seabird stands out for its graceful flight and sharp calls above the...

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Portuguese Man o’ War washed up on dark sand of Madeira Island with ocean waves blurred in the background.
  • Jellyfish & Ocean Drifters, Siphonophores

Portuguese Man o’ War: The Floating Colony of the Atlantic

Drifting across the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, the Portuguese Man o’ War (Physalia physalis) is one of the most striking and misunderstood marine...

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False Killer Whale (Falsa Orca) surfacing in the open sea off Madeira Island.
  • Dolphins, Marine Mammals

False Killer Whale (Falsa Orca): The Powerful Oceanic Dolphin of the Atlantic

The deep waters of the Atlantic surrounding Madeira Island are home to an impressive diversity of marine mammals. Among the most powerful and fascinating...

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A couple of short-finned Pilot Whales aka Baleia-Piloto surfacing in the blue sea off Madeira Island.
  • Marine Mammals, Whales

Short-Finned Pilot Whale (Baleia-Piloto): The Social Whales of Madeira

The waters surrounding Madeira Island host an impressive variety of marine mammals, from agile dolphins to massive migrating whales. Among the most commonly observed...

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A Killer Whale aka Orca surfacing in the dark blue sea off Madeira Island.
  • Marine Mammals, Whales

Orca (Killer Whale): The Apex Predator of the Ocean

Among the most powerful and intelligent predators in the world’s oceans is the Orca, also known as the Killer Whale (Orcinus orca). With its...

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A diver swimming surrounded by a big school of fish in the pelagic ecosystem ocean in the rocky shores of Madeira Island.
  • Ocean Ecosystems, Open Ocean

The Pelagic Ecosystem: Life in the Open Ocean Around Madeira

Far beyond the rocky shores of Madeira lies an immense marine environment known as the pelagic ecosystem. This is the open ocean, a vast...

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A woman on a boat releasing a sea turtle that was freed by 2 divers from fishing nets in the sea
  • Marine Conservation, Sustainable Oceans

Sustainable Ocean Practices: Protecting Marine Life in the Atlantic

The Atlantic Ocean is one of the most biologically rich marine environments on Earth. From the deep pelagic waters surrounding Madeira to the coastal...

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A Mobula ray aka Devil Ray swimming in a dark blue atlantic sea of Madeira.
  • Rays, Sharks & Rays

Mobula Rays of the Atlantic: The Acrobatic Devil Rays Seen Near Madeira

The Atlantic waters surrounding Madeira Island are famous for dolphins and whales, yet another spectacular marine animal occasionally steals the spotlight: the Mobula ray,...

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A bottlenose dolphin jumping in the madeira island sea near a seagull with open wings.
  • Dolphins, Marine Mammals

Bottlenose Dolphins Around Madeira: The Island’s Most Familiar Cetacean

Few marine animals are as recognizable as the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). With their curved “smile,” intelligence, and playful behavior, these dolphins have become...

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A short beaked common dolphin jumping high over the the sea in Madeira island.
  • Dolphins, Marine Mammals

Short-beaked Common Dolphins of Madeira: Fast Swimmers of the Atlantic

The waters surrounding Madeira Island are among the richest marine habitats in the North Atlantic. Warm currents, deep oceanic drop-offs, and abundant fish create...

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