The long-finned pilot whale is one of the biggest species of dolphins, getting its common name from their typical behaviour of following a leader, the “pilot”, when travelling in groups over long distances. It is characterised by a distinctive large and rounded melon, and by a black or dark grey body. These features are inferred by the genus name Globicephala melas, made of the words globus, meaning round ball in Latin, kephale, meaning head in Greek, and melas, the greek word for black.
Pectoral fins are long, sickle-shaped, while the dorsal fin is low in profile, which in males is extremely wide and broad based. When an individual spy hops, a light grey or white anchor-shaped patch on the chest and the straight mouthline angled upwards are clearly visible. Adults measure from 4 to 6.7 meters for a weight that varies between 1.3 to 2.3 tons.
The long-finned pilot whale prefers the continental shelf break, continental and island slope waters, but also areas with complex topography such as seamounts. This species is widely distributed in temperate to sub-polar waters in in the southern hemisphere and in the North Atlantic. In the Mediterranean sea, it occurs mainly in the wester region, including the Strait of Gibraltar.
The long-finned pilot whale prefers the continental shelf break, continental and island slope waters, but also areas with complex topography such as seamounts. This species is widely distributed in temperate to sub-polar waters in in the southern hemisphere and in the North Atlantic. In the Mediterranean sea, it occurs mainly in the wester region, including the Strait of Gibraltar, but can be occasionally spotted also in more central areas.
The diet mainly includes squid and other cephalopods, some small to medium-sized fish and occasionally shrimps Long-finned pilot whales tend to feed at night at depths that range from 30 to 500m. Depending on region and prey, dive time can reach 16 minutes. Like other members of the delphinid family, they use echolocation when searching for prey.
Long-finned pilot whales are commonly seen in tight, social pods and sub-groups of 10 to 20 individuals. These animals are nocturnal and spend their daytime hours resting and travelling. They are likely to be more active and socialize during the night, when they feed. They are known to associate with a variety of other dolphin and whale species. These animals communicate acoustically using a complex repertoire of sounds.
The lifespan of pilot whales is 35 to 45 years for males and at least 60 years for females. Males become sexually mature at 12 to 13 years and the females at 8 years. Gestation lasts 15 months, and calving happens every 3 to 5 years, giving birth to a single calf during spring or summer. This is one of the longest known birth intervals of all cetaceans.
The common bottlenose dolphin is most likely the best known of all cetaceans, figured in legends and being known since the ancient Greeks ...
The short-beaked common dolphin is a medium-sized dolphin, easily distinguishable by a very unique hourglass-like pattern on the side of ...
The striped dolphin is the most abundant dolphin species in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a small, active and energetic dolphin, usually s ...
Risso’s dolphins are large members of the Delphinidae family, presenting a distinctive coloration that can vary throughout their ...
The fin whale is the second longest animal in the world, after the blue whale, reaching a length of 23 m and weighting up to 50 tons. The ...
The sperm whale is easily recognisable by its massive heads which contains the spermaceti: the world’s most powerful natural sonar or ech ...
