Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Globicephala melas
- Common name
- Long-finned pilot whale
- Category
- Marine mammals
- Family
- Delphinidae
- Genus
- Globicephala
- Size
- 370–630 cm
- Depth
- 0–600 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- open-water
- Behaviours
- pelagic, schooling
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Globicephala melas reaches 6.3 m and 2.3 tons. Large dolphin (Delphinidae) of temperate and subtropical waters of North Atlantic and Southern Ocean with stocky body black to dark-brown with light anchor-shaped mark on throat and belly, characteristic rounded head (bulbous melon, hence globicephala), long sickle-shaped pectoral fins. Lives from 0 to 600 m in open water, deep diver hunting cephalopods (mainly squid). Lives in tightly bonded family pods of 10 to 50 individuals. IUCN Least Concern. Boat observation and occasionally snorkel photo subject (Tenerife, Mediterranean, Gibraltar, Azores).
Photo of Long-finned pilot whale
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Long-finned pilot whale?
- Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) reaches 370–630 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Long-finned pilot whale?
- Long-finned pilot whale is found between 0–600 m deep.
- Is the Long-finned pilot whale dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Long-finned pilot whale?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Long-finned pilot whale?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Globicephala
Other species in the family Delphinidae
- Tursiops truncatus - Common bottlenose dolphin
- Stenella frontalis - Atlantic spotted dolphin
- Delphinus delphis - Common dolphin
- Orcinus orca - Killer whale
- Tursiops aduncus - Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
- Pseudorca crassidens - False Killer Whale
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 137097)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2440596)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia