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Fishin' for Facts: Pilot Whales

Family Delphinidae

  Common name: Long-finned  Pilot Whale  

    Genus species:  Globicephala malena

  Common name: Short-finned Pilot Whale  

    Genus species:  Globicephala macrorhynchus

There are two types of pilot whale. The long-finned pilot whale reaches maximum lengths up to 6 m (male); 5m for the female. The short-finned is slightly smaller.

Pilot whales primarily eat squid. Off-season, the long-finned pilot whale may eat cod. Pilot whales can gather in herd of hundreds of animals

It is hard to see any difference between the two species. In fact, it is nearly impossible to tell them apart at sea. Their distribution is similar, but the long-finned is generally found in colder waters, the short-finned in warmer waters.