Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Pilot whales, comprising long-finned and short-finned species, exhibit profound familial ties within their large, structured groups, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. Their sophisticated social dynamics are underscored by their vocal communication skills, essential for navigating and hunting in deep waters. These cetaceans are adept at deep-sea foraging, primarily hunting squid, using echolocation – a testament to their complex social and hunting strategies.

Despite their close genetic and behavioral similarities, differentiating between the two species in their natural habitat poses a significant challenge due to their shared physical characteristics. Their societal structures are complex, with groups often led by a matriarch, illustrating their intricate social hierarchies and bonds that can span lifetimes, highlighting their unique place in the marine ecosystem.

Quick facts

Length

Long-finned / Short-finned

Male: 6,7m / 7,3m

Female: 5,7m / 5,1m

Calf: 1,7m / 1,4m

Weight

Male: 2,3 tons / 3,5 tons

Calves: 75 kg / 40 kg

Habits

Dive Time

<27min

Dive Depth

<1000m

Reproduction

Males 35-45; Fem 60+

Life Span:

12-16mth

Gestation period:

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

Individuals are rarely seen alone. Pilot whales are highly social animals that live in groups of approximately 15 to 50 individuals. The groups are usually families, in which members remain together for life. On occasions, several family groups gather and form a pod, comprising generally 30 to 90 individuals, sometimes going up to several hundred. They are generally tightly packed, but they can sometimes be observed as loose aggregations over large areas. During these gatherings, males and females from different family groups mate.

Alike killer whales, groups of pilot whales tend to be matrilineal. They can be composed of individuals of all ages and sexes, but there is typically a greater number of adult females. In fact, in a group, there tend to be one mature male for every eight mature females. Overall, the social structure of short-finned pilot whales is highly complex and dynamic, reflecting the importance of social bonds for these intelligent and highly social animals.

Dive sequence

@Georgina Cabayol

Behavior & Feeding

Socializing +

Pilot whales demonstrate vital social behaviors for their survival and success in reproduction, engaging in both acoustic and non-acoustic interactions. They communicate through complex vocalizations, including whistles for pod cohesion, echolocation clicks for navigation and locating prey in deep waters, and burst-pulsed sounds for varied social functions. These whales also exhibit distinctive dialects and adjust their vocalizations based on their activity, underlining the role of sounds in their social lives. Additionally, body behaviors like breaching and spyhopping vary between species, contributing to their social interactions.

Resting +

Surface activities of pilot whales, especially post-foraging at sunrise, primarily consist of resting. They are often observed resting at the surface, indicating a significant portion of daylight hours is dedicated to recuperation.

Foraging & Diet +

Pilot whales are adept nocturnal hunters, specializing in deep-sea dives along continental slopes to catch prey. Their diet mainly consists of squid, though they may also consume octopus and deep-water fish. Utilizing echolocation, they hunt with precision, employing tactics like high-speed chases facilitated by rapid click “buzzes” for efficient predation. The technique known as “ram-and-suction” is used to capture their prey, showcasing their adaptability and skill in feeding strategies.

Predators

Pilot whales, both the short-finned and long-finned varieties, show remarkably few signs of predation, suggesting that encounters with potential natural enemies like killer whales and large sharks are rare or predominantly target the younger, smaller individuals. This low incidence of visible scars implies that any successful attacks are likely to result in mortality, as there’s no substantial evidence of regular predation on these cetaceans. The scarcity of scars on pilot whales serves as an indirect indicator of their interactions with predators, pointing towards infrequent and possibly fatal outcomes for the prey.

https://wwhandbook.iwc.int/en/species/pilot-whale

Distribution & Movements

Long-finned pilot whales predominantly inhabit the cooler waters of both the northern and southern hemispheres, favoring the temperate and subpolar regions. These environments provide the necessary conditions for their feeding habits and social behaviors. On the other hand, short-finned pilot whales are more commonly found in warmer, tropical, and subtropical waters. This distribution pattern highlights the species’ adaptability to a range of oceanic conditions, from the cooler, nutrient-rich temperate zones to the warmer, biodiverse tropical seas. Despite their overlapping ranges in some areas, the distinct thermal preferences of each species facilitate their adaptation to specific ecological niches, reflecting the remarkable diversity and adaptability of cetaceans to the world’s oceans.

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual Maturity

8-17 years
Females at 8-9 years of age, males at 13-17 years.
However, males do not mate successfully until several years later.

Gestation

14-16 months

Number of calves

4-5 calves in a lifetime
Calving occurs every 3-5 years, with older females having up to eight years between births. Calves are born year-round, with peaks in spring and autumn in the southern hemisphere and autumn and winter in most northern hemisphere populations.

Suckling period

2-3 years or longer
Post-reproductive females may continue to suckle their last calf for up to 7 years (females) or 15 years (males), possibly to give the offspring a reproductive edge. Calves can eat solid food from about six months of age.

Lifespan

35-60 years
Females can live for at least 60 years, while males have a lifespan of 35-45 years.
The oldest recorded ages are 46 years for a male and 63 years for a female. Older, non-breeding females may provide babysitting services and/or act as keepers of ecological wisdom.

Mating strategy

Presumed polygynandrous
Both males and females have multiple mating partners.
Males move between groups to mate, highlighting a complex social structure and reproductive strategy within Pilot Whale populations.

Species in the Azores

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whales are the largest animals in the world and can easily be detected from a great distance.

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

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Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm whales hold the title of largest predator on Earth eating mostly giant squids from the deep oceans.

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

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Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

The Bryde's whale live in the tropical waters, are agile filter feeders and love to perform acrobatic displays.

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

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Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The second-largest whales, swift and streamlined ocean roamers.

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

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Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

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Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

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Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

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Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Elusive deep-divers known for their unique foraging behavior.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

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Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Third-largest whale species on Earth, fast swimmers and deep-divers.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

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Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Noted for extraordinary deep-diving, setting mammalian records in depth and duration

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

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Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Melodic giants with acrobatic displays, known for their haunting songs and intricate social behaviors. Know more!

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

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Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

Notable for their striking body patterns and acrobatic prowess.

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

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Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are highly intelligent and social creatures, famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

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Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Orcas are the apex predators of the marine world, known for their distinctive black and white coloring and complex social structures.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

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Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Large groups of common dolphins, whipping the ocean's surface into a froth, are a familiar and thrilling sight in many parts of the world.

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

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False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale belongs taxonomically to the dolphin family and it often behaves more like one of its energetic and sprightly smaller relatives.

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

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Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

Sowerby’s Beaked Whales are elusive denizens of the North Atlantic, recognized by their slender beaks and distinctive forehead bulges.

Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

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Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is renowned for its heavily scarred appearance and significant size among species referred to as dolphins.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

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Dragoeiro

Dracaena draco

Dragoeiro

Dracaena draco

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Sanguinho

Frangula azorica

Sanguinho

Frangula azorica

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Gingeira Brava

Prunus azorica

Gingeira Brava

Prunus azorica

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

View profile

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Elusive deep-divers known for their unique foraging behavior.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

View profile

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are highly intelligent and social creatures, famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

View profile

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Large groups of common dolphins, whipping the ocean's surface into a froth, are a familiar and thrilling sight in many parts of the world.

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

View profile

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Noted for extraordinary deep-diving, setting mammalian records in depth and duration

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

View profile

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale belongs taxonomically to the dolphin family and it often behaves more like one of its energetic and sprightly smaller relatives.

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

View profile

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

View profile

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Orcas are the apex predators of the marine world, known for their distinctive black and white coloring and complex social structures.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

View profile

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

View profile

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is renowned for its heavily scarred appearance and significant size among species referred to as dolphins.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

View profile

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whales are the largest animals in the world and can easily be detected from a great distance.

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

View profile

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

The Bryde's whale live in the tropical waters, are agile filter feeders and love to perform acrobatic displays.

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

View profile

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The second-largest whales, swift and streamlined ocean roamers.

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

View profile

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Melodic giants with acrobatic displays, known for their haunting songs and intricate social behaviors. Know more!

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

View profile

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

View profile

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Third-largest whale species on Earth, fast swimmers and deep-divers.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

View profile

Whale Watching Azores Essentials

Explore, Love, and Protect: Unveiling the essence of Whale Watching in the Azores

More information

Explore Azores

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Quick facts

Length

Weight

Habits

Reproduction

Reproduction

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern <img width="21" height="26" class="graphics-design-i" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tooltip-more-info-futurismo.svg"> Common and widespread, low vulnerability.

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

Dive sequence

Behavior & Feeding

Predators

Distribution & Movements

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual Maturity

Gestation

Number of calves

Suckling period

Lifespan

Mating strategy

Species in the Azores

Sighting frequency

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Species

Departure Points

Dates

Related Scientific Articles

Negulescu, R. (2021): Spatial and temporal distribution and photo identification of the pilot whale population of São Miguel, Azores

González, L. (2018): Spatio-temporal distribution of the order Cetacea in the Azores: relationship between biotic and abiotic variables

Sardà, C. et al (2011): AzoresPhotoID: First Results from an Open-Access Photo-Identification Catalog

Negulescu, R. et al (2020): Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Photo Identification of Short-Finned Pilot Whales off São Miguel Island

Sousa, A. et al (2021): Climate change vulnerability of cetaceans in Macaronesia

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Humpback Whale

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern

Common and widespread, low vulnerability.