xth of the body length or less. (_Photo by J. G. Mead._)]

SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE (T)

_Globicephala macrorhynchus_ Gray 1846

Other Common Names

Blackfish (see also p. 84, 91, and 94).

Description

Male short-finned pilot whales of the western North Atlantic reach
lengths of at least 17.5 feet (5.3 m). Females are reportedly slightly
smaller than males (recorded only to 15.5 feet [4.7 m]).

The head, somewhat like that of the Atlantic pilot whales (p. 91), is
thick and bulbous, a characteristic which reaches its extreme in the
development of a flattened or squarish appearance to the front of the
head in mature males (see Fig. 101). In very old males the melon may
overhang the mouth up to several inches. The flippers are shorter than
those of the other pilot whale species of the western North Atlantic
(thus the common name short-finned pilot whale), reaching only one-sixth
of the body length or less. The tail is dorsoventrally thickened just in
front of the flukes.

The dorsal fin, like that of the Atlantic pilot whale, is one of the
species' most distinctive characteristics. It is low in profile, has a
long base, and is set far forward on the animal's back.

Short-finned pilot whales are all black on the back sides and most of
the belly with an anchor-shaped patch of gray on the chin and a gray
area of varying extent and intensity on the belly. These areas are less
vivid and extensive than those on Atlantic pilot whales. Younger animals
are lighter, often medium gray.

Natural History Notes

Short-finned pilot whales are known to occur in groups of 60 animals or
more, though smaller groups are more common. They have been reported
pitchpoling (spy-hopping), lobtailing, and--rarely--breaching.

Short-finned pilot whales feed on squid and fish.

May Be Confused With

In the tropical portion of their range, short-finned pilot whales may be
confused with pygmy killer whales (p. 138) and many-toothed blackfish
(p. 142). They may be distinguished from both species primarily by their
distinctive dorsal fin and the bulbous-to-squarish head. Both pygmy
killer whales and many-toothed blackfish have dorsal fins, which are
more falcate, slender, and pointed on the tip, and have longer,
slenderer heads.

Throughout their range short-finned pilot whales may be confused with
false killer whales. The two species may be distinguished by the same
differences which distinguish Atlantic pilot whales fro