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Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals

Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (Second Edition)

2009, Pages 133-134
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals

Bow-Riding

Author links open overlay panelBernd Wursig
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This chapter focuses on the bow-riding behaviors of dolphins when
they ride the bow pressure waves of boats. Dolphins probably have
been bow-riding ever since swift vessels plied the seas, propelled by
oar, sail, or very recently in the history of seafaring, motor. The
Greeks wrote of bow-riding in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean
Seas by what were most likely bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus), common
(Delphinus delphis), and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba).
Bow-riding consists of dolphins, porpoises, and other smaller toothed
whales (and occasionally sea lions and fur seals) positioning
themselves in such a manner as to be lifted up and pushed forward by
the circulating water generated to form a bow pressure wave of an
advancing vessel. Dolphins are exquisitely good at bow-riding, able
to fine-tune their body posture and position so as to be propelled
along entirely by the pressure wave, often with no tail (or fluke)
beats needed. Bow-riders at the periphery of the pressure wave do
need to beat their flukes, and so do bow-riders of a slowly moving
vessel or one with a very sharp cutting instead of pushing bow.

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