A
good variety of marine wildlife occurs off Angola, and Ketos Ecology records all large marine megafauna including seabirds, sharks and large fish
such as the ocean sunfish.
Seabirds
Ketos
Ecology initiated seabird survey work offshore Angola in 2005, providing
the first data on the distribution and relative abundance of seabird
species in the region. Data on birds are collected concurrently
with marine mammal/turtle surveys, with a time and position recorded
for every bird seen while 'on effort'. The data will be
collated and used to produce seasonal distribution maps in this poorly studied region.
The data collected to date indicate that seabird densities in oceanic
deep-water areas off Angola are generally low, with the fauna
dominated by petrels (particularly Leach's and Wilson's petrel),
skuas (particularly pomarine and long-tailed), terns (several
species), and shearwaters (mostly Cory's).
Sharks
Sharks
are a conspicuous part of Angola's offshore marine fauna. The majority
have been identified as hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna
sp.), which are usually observed travelling slowly along at the surface, often swimming in tight circles with their dorsal and tail
fins visible above the water. Although usually sighted alone, groups of up to three hammerhead sharks are sometimes seen together.
Total
daily counts of over 25 hammerhead sharks are recorded on some
dates during calm sea conditions. Although hammerhead
sharks are readily identifiable, the majority of other sharks have
remained unidentified due to their similarity in appearance.
Several have been
identified as Mackerel sharks
(Family: Lamnidae), including a large (4+ m) leaping animal close to
Luanda thought to be a great white (Carcharodon
carcharias) shark. A
small dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) was
positively identified during October 2004. Whale sharks
(Rhincodon typus) have been recorded on several
occasions and Ketos Ecology is currently preparing a publication on
sightings of this species in the region.
Rays
Manta
rays (Manta birostris)
are recorded regularly off Angola, Congo and Gabon, and are seen in
all water depths. Most manta rays are seen when they leap clear of
the water, often turning complete somersaults in the air.
However, on very calm days they can also be observed subsurface, with
the tips of the wings occasionally breaking the surface.
Other
fish
Ocean
sunfish (Mola mola)
are most often recorded off Angola during August and September, probably a result of
the calmer sea states during those months. The fish are usually observed orientated vertically in the water with the
top of the head and dorsal fin
protruding above the surface.
Occasionally sunfish are seen in their horizontal orientation, when
the large, silver oval shape of their bodies can be clearly seen
beneath the water. On several occasions ocean sunfish have been
observed leaping clear of the
water in Angola. A
number of other large fish species have been recorded in Angolan
waters, including Atlantic
blue marlin (Makaira nigricans), swordfish (Xiphias
gladius), Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans),
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus).
Ketos
Ecology initiated seabird survey work offshore Angola in 2005, providing
the first data on the distribution and relative abundance of seabird
species in the region. Data on birds are collected concurrently
with marine mammal/turtle surveys, with a time and position recorded
for every bird seen while 'on effort'. The data will be
collated and used to produce seasonal distribution maps in this poorly studied region.
The data collected to date indicate that seabird densities in oceanic
deep-water areas off Angola are generally low, with the fauna
dominated by petrels (particularly Leach's and Wilson's petrel),
skuas (particularly pomarine and long-tailed), terns (several
species), and shearwaters (mostly Cory's). 
Sharks
are a conspicuous part of Angola's offshore marine fauna. The majority
have been identified as hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna
sp.), which are usually observed travelling slowly along at the surface, often swimming in tight circles with their dorsal and tail
fins visible above the water. Although usually sighted alone, groups of up to three hammerhead sharks are sometimes seen together.
Manta
rays (Manta birostris)
are recorded regularly off Angola, Congo and Gabon, and are seen in
all water depths. Most manta rays are seen when they leap clear of
the water, often turning complete somersaults in the air.
However, on very calm days they can also be observed subsurface, with
the tips of the wings occasionally breaking the surface. 
Ocean
sunfish (Mola mola)
are most often recorded off Angola during August and September, probably a result of
the calmer sea states during those months. The fish are usually observed orientated vertically in the water with the
top of the head and dorsal fin
protruding above the surface.
Occasionally sunfish are seen in their horizontal orientation, when
the large, silver oval shape of their bodies can be clearly seen
beneath the water. On several occasions ocean sunfish have been
observed leaping clear of the
water in Angola. A
number of other large fish species have been recorded in Angolan
waters, including Atlantic
blue marlin (Makaira nigricans), swordfish (Xiphias
gladius), Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans),
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus).