Long Finned Pilot Whales Globicephala Melas Dolphins

Belonging to the Oceanic dolphin family, Long Finned Pilot whales are actually dolphins rather than whales although at times they behave like whales. Their scientific name is Globicephala melas.

A highly social marine mammal, Long Finned Pilot Whales, aka Globicephala melas, are often found in large pods of around 100 animals.

Although they are actually dolphins, they often behave more like whales. They also appear similar to the Orca Whale (also a member of the dolphin family). They are jet black with a patch of white on their bellies and a faint grey smug behind the dorsal fin which represents a saddle patch. Their most distinguishing feature is their melon like heads and little or no beak. Their dorsal fin is broad based and quite forward on their bodies while their tail is stocky.

The Long Finned Pilot Whale and Short Finned Pilot Whale are difficult to identify at sea especially since their areas of distribution overlap - however, the most obvious difference is in the length of their flippers (as their names suggest). ... continue below the picture...