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New images have emerged of some of the UK’s most majestic sea creatures, leaping out of the sea, off the coast of North Wales. The extraordinary pictures show pods of playful Risso’s dolphins in the water near Point Lynas Lighthouse in Llaneilian.
According to NorthWalesLive, Risso’s dolphins are very different to the dolphins we’re used to seeing because they don’t have long pointy beaks or shiny silver skin. Instead, they have a large bulbous head and a large sickle-shaped dorsal fin, which when sticking out of the water, can look like that of a killer whale – earning them the nickname “dwarf orcas”.
Their love of deep waters and nighttime feeding means they don’t often venture to shore. However, they occasionally head closer to land in search of fish or squid to snack on, giving people a chance to catch a glimpse of them.
Among the lucky few to have caught sight of the creatures was Ian Rothwell Jones, who snapped stunning pictures of around 20 dolphins at Point Lynas earlier this week. Sharing his pictures to social media, Ian commented on the “fantastic feeling” of getting close-up shots of the playful pod.
Sean Thompson also caught sight of a pod leaping out of the water at Point Lynas Lighthouse near Amlwch earlier this month.
Pictures show the dolphins’ distinctive grey bodies, which are often covered in scars from the bites of other dolphins. They are closely related to other species of dolphin including pygmy killer whales and melon-headed whales, which often roam more tropical waters.
This type of dolphin, which can reach up to 13 feet in length, was named after Antoine Risso, who studied them in the 19th century. They are said to be able to dive at least 1,000 feet and hold their breath for as long as 30 minutes, making it even more special to catch a glimpse.
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