The Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) is the most common dolphin seen off the east coast;it is closely related to the killer whale;the marks on its body comes from injuries sustained when hunting, fighting or when attacked; when the wound heals it becomes a lighter colored mark. The longer the animals live the more wounds they receive and so the veterans can be almost completely white. The biggest difference between the Risso's dolphin and other dolphins is that its snout is flat, its body thicker and its find are black. They live in groups of 25 to several hundred and even one group of 4000 was recorded. They mainly eat octopus and shellfish, live in temperate and tropical waters and can be seen in both continental shelf waters and deep water. Whales and dolphin communicate by sonar as well as various kinds of physical language, with the specialty of the Risso's dolphin turning on its side and hitting the water.
The best time to visit : Whales and dolphins can be seen all year round off the coast of tropical Taitung, with June to August the best time for visitors because the waves are smaller.
