Long-finned pilot whale
Globicephala melas
IUCN Status:Least Concern
Where can they be found?
Occasionally encountered in our shallow seas, including the Irish and North Seas
Please note: this map is intended as a guide for general locations rather than detailed localised populations.
Did you know... They are the 2nd largest dolphin after orcas.
Key facts about Long-finned pilot whales
The long-finned pilot whale is a marine mammal known for its sleek, elongated body and distinctive head shape. It is also lovingly called the pothead whale because its most notable feature is the blunt, bulbous forehead which inspired its Latin name; literally meaning “dark round head”. However, its name is misleading as it is actually a type of dolphin.
These ‘whales’ are typically dark charcoal to black in colour, often with a lighter grey patch behind the dorsal fin and a subtle anchor-shaped marking on the chest. They have long, slender flippers which can reach up to one-fifth of their body length.
Like other dolphins, long-finned pilot whales are highly social, and can live in pods that range from a few individuals to over a hundred. They exhibit strong family bonds and cooperative behaviours, however they are known for multiple mass strandings which is thought to be linked to their tight social structure.
| IUCN status | Least Concern |
|---|---|
| Age | Long-finned pilot whales have a relatively long lifespan compared to many other marine mammals. They usually live up to 45 years, though some individuals have remarkably reached up to 60 years in the wild. Like many cetaceans, females tend to live longer than males. |
| Diet | They are deep divers, capable of reaching depths of over 600 meters (2,000 feet) in search of squid, their primary food source. Since cephalopods are their preffered meal, they have actually developed mouths that are adapted for sucking up prey whole instead of using their teeth to bite and grasp what they want to eat. |
| Habitat | Open ocean |
| Length | 5-6.5m |
| Speed and distance | Unlike other dolphin species, long-finned pilot whales are not extremely speedy but they are stronger. They can swim up to 12-18mpg when chasing prey however. They are semi-migratory and mainly travel where food goes which means they are present around the UK throughout the year. They can cover up to 100km in a day if they wish. |
| Weight | 2,300kg |
