What are the giants of the Philippine's waters?
- CRCP
- May 15
- 4 min read
There are around 90 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises, known collectively as 'cetaceans'. These species are divided into two main groups: baleen whales and toothed whales. The main differences lays in their mouth and how they catch their food.
Baleen whales take their name from the horny plates made of keratin that hang from their upper jaw, used for straining small prey like krill, plankton, and fish from the water. These "baleen" plates allows them to filter food from water effectively. There are at least 15 species of baleen whales, along the most famous are the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Toothed whales have teeth and use them to capture and consume prey. These include dolphins, porpoises, and sperm whales. The orca (Orcinus orca), or killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. As for whale sharks, although they are large filter-feeding fish, their anatomy and reproductive system (they are not mammal), places them within the shark family.
The Philippines hosts some of the most biodiverse waters on earth including many of these fascinating marine giants. There are at least 25 confirmed species of whales and dolphins in Philippine waters.
Baleen whales in the Philippines
Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus (the largest of them all can reach 29.9m!!!)
Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus (the second-longest cetacean)
Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera brydei
Omura's whale, Balaenoptera omurai
Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae (Adults range in length from 14–17 m and weigh up to 40 metric tons.)
Toothed whales in the Philippines
Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus
Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima
Blainville’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris
Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps
Cuvier’s beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris
Longman’s beaked whale, Indopacetus pacificus
Dolphins in the Philippines
Gray’s Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris
Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata
Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba
Dwarf spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris
Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis
Common Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops aduncus
Fraser’s dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei
Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus
Irrawaddy dolphin, Orcaella brevirostris
Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus
Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata
False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens
Killer whale, Orcinus orca
Where to see whales and dolphins in the Philippines ?
There are at least 6 major hotspots for cetaceans in the Philippines including Palawan waters, Babuyan Islands, Zambales coast, the davao gulf, the Bohol sea (or mindanao sea) and the nearby Tanon strait. Each are known for their extremely rich waters and are known for being part of the migratory route of whales and dolphins in the Philippines.
Siquijor is located in the Bohol Sea
While visiting Siquijor, you might want to take some time to appreciate the incredibly rich deed waters of the region. The Bohol Sea (Mindanao Sea), is recognized as a critical habitat for cetacean conservation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia and an IMMA (Important Marine Mammals Area). Its ecological importance stems from its unique marine geography, biodiversity, and strategic location within the Coral Triangle, one of the most biodiverse marine areas in the world.
In the region if you are lucky you might be able to encounter 17 species of whales and dolphins. Some species, like spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) and Fraser’s dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei), appear to be resident populations, meaning they stay in the region year-round. While others, such as sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), can be sighted seasonally, indicating the role of the area as a stopover or feeding ground along migration routes. The Bohol Sea is the only known area in the country where blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) have been positively identified. The Bohol Sea features steep underwater drop-offs and trenches (like the Bohol Trench), creating productive zones rich in plankton, squid, and fish—ideal food sources for deep-diving cetaceans like sperm whales and beaked whales.
Cetaceans's conservation
While whales and dolphins have always been known to be a rare sight for most people due to their far and sometimes deep habitats, however they use to be abundant in these waters. Travelling from Dumaguete to Siquijor by ferry, (or bohol to Siquijor) in early morning it is still common to be able to witness pods dolphins playing and hunting near the boats. On smaller boat trips, Pilot whales are not uncommon sight either. Lucky travelers might spot whales from a distance. However, overwhelming threats are causing populations of these majestic and intelligent animals to be decreasing fast.
Some of the most important threats include:
Commercial shipping traffic that increases the risk of ship strikes and noise pollution
Bycatch and unsustainable fishing practices
Plastic pollution and marine debris
Unregulated tourism and boat disturbance
While more research and data is critically needed in the country, governmental agencies, marine science universities & academia, and specialized NGOs (such as Balyena, Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, among others) are working hard to better understand the populations of cetaceans in the Philippines, their behavior, migratory patterns and reproduction in order to better protect them. Visit their website for more information on their amazing work.
Read more on the topic?
Redlist Status of Marine Mammals in the Philippines (This book is the output of the Red List assessment for marine mammal populations in the Philippines in May 2013 in collaboration A collaboration of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape Initiative of Conservation International-Philippines, the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, GmbH, and the marine mammal researchers of the Philippines. It contains a comprehensive and up-to-date account of research work on the ecology, distribution, threats, and conservation status of all the marine mammals in the Philippines).
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