Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Humpback Whales are known for their magical songs, which travel for great distances through the world’s oceans. These sequences of moans, howls, cries, and other noises are quite complex and often continue for hours on end. Scientists are studying these sounds to decipher their meaning. It is most likely that Humpback Whales sing to communicate with others and to attract potential mates.
These whales are found near coastlines, feeding on tiny shrimp-like krill, plankton, and small fish. Humpback Whales migrate annually from summer feeding grounds near the poles to warmer winter breeding waters closer to the Equator. Mothers and their young swim close together, often touching one another with their flippers with what appear to be gestures of affection. Females nurse their calves for almost a year, though it takes far longer than that for a Humpback Whale to reach full adulthood.
Every year hundreds of Humpback Whales migrate from the South Pole to the warm waters of KwaZulu Natal. Between May and November, if you are just chilling on the beach, you cannot help but see these magnificent creatures frolicking off our coastline.
Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose Dolphins are the most well-known and common members of the family of ocean dolphins, Delphinidae. They are seen throughout the year in our waters. If you are just chilling on the beach, you can often see them frolicking in the surf.
Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari)
The Spotted Eagle Ray is from the eagle ray family, Myliobatidae. It can be found globally in tropical regions, at depths down to about 80 meters. The rays are most commonly seen alone, but occasionally swim in groups.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is an oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae.
Potato Bass (Epinephelus tukula)
The Potato Cod/Bass has been fished out of most locations, however, it can still be found in mostly tropical waters. The fish is found mainly in the Pacific and Indian oceans. They prefer to stay in reef areas; however, as juveniles, the fish abide in reef tide pools.
Round Ribbontail Ray (Taeniura melanospilos)
The Round Ribbontail Ray or Giant Reef Ray is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, found throughout the near shore waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific, as well as off islands in the eastern Pacific. It is a bottom-dwelling inhabitant of lagoons, estuaries, and reefs, generally at a depth of 20–60 m.
