One of the 2 pilot whales on WAnimals
Mammals · Artiodactyla · Delphinidae
Globicephala melas
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
It is sadly known for frequent mass strandings, a phenomenon linked to the strong social bonds and close kinship within each pod.
Weight
1.3 t – 2.3 t
Size
5 m – 6.5 m
Life expectancy
45 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Irregular activity
Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.
Social structure
Hierarchical pack
Lives in an organised hierarchical group, typical of cooperative hunters.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
AI-generated images: illustrations, not photographs.
Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; Australian Government Species Profile; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); PMC (Southern Hemisphere age growth study); Animalia.bio; AnimalSpot; Life Conceptu Maris; Mammal Society; NOAA Fisheries
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 20 of 89.
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Long-finned Pilot Whale — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Based on what we already know about long-finned pilot whale.
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The pins mark the parks and dive sites where its presence is documented.
