Long-Finned Pilot Whale
The Long-Finned Pilot Whale can be found in all cold temperate and subpolar waters of all oceans except the North Pacific. It is not thought that Long-Finned Pilot Whales migrate.
Classification: The genus Globicephala ('globe-head') was created in 1828 and contained what was known as the Pilot Whale, then known as Globicephala melaena. There was some confusion as to how many species existed until 1971, when a review of the genus found differences in the length of flippers and in the skull of the animals. This lead to the recognition of two species, the Long-Finned Pilot Whale and its shorter-finned cousin. Though there are arguments that a subspecies of the former should also be included (namely those living in the Southern Hemisphere) under the name Globicephala melas edwardii, this is currently not recognised. The specific name melas means 'black', so this species is literally 'black globe-head'.
Local Names: Pothead Whale; Caaing Whale; Longfin Pilot Whale; Atlantic Pilot Whale.
Description: The Long-Finned Pilot Whale is a fairly stocky whale, with low, rounded dorsal fin that is set one-third of the way along the body (in the young, the dorsal is more triangular). The flippers are pointed and long, often extending for as much as 25% of the body length in adults. The forehead is bulbous, leading to a small mouth which has between 8-13 pairs of teeth in each jaw. The body colour is very dark brown or grey-black, with the young being a lighter grey. Stranded animals are normally very dark. There is a light grey or white patch in the shape of an anchor on the throat and chest. There is also a streak behind the eye and a saddle patch behind the dorsal, but both of these can be either very visible or barely noticeable. Males reach a maximum of 6.3m and females 5.5m in length. The average body weight is 1.75 tonnes and 1 tonne respectively.
Recognition at sea: The Long-Finned Pilot Whale is normally found in groups of either tens or hundreds, and often with other small cetaceans or Minke Whales. The shape of the dorsal should be enough to distinguish this species from all others save for its closest relative, the Short-Finned Pilot Whale, and the only outward difference between these two is the size of the flippers. The Long-Finned Pilot Whale often 'logs', apparently asleep, at the surface, and when they do move they do so slowly. The blow is invisible.
Habitat: Long-Finned Pilot Whales prefer subpolar and temperate waters where the surface has a temperature of between 0-25º. They are mainly an oceanic species, though they will enter coastal and shallow waters in search of food. Since this is one of the cetaceans that are more commonly found stranded, it is assumed that they do not adapt well to shallow waters.
Food & Feeding: Long-Finned Pilot Whales mainly take squid as a food source, but when none are available they will take fish. It is thought, however, that this species will take any locally abundant schooling prey.
Behaviour: The typical family unit contains between 50-100 individuals. Although an extremely social species, Long-Finned Pilot Whales are not normally acrobatic, preferring to move slowly and 'log' at the surface. They vocalise with clicks and whistles.
Longevity: Between 35-60 years.
Estimated Current Population: Unknown, but thought to be common.
The Influence of Man: There has been incidental catches in fishery gear where over 100 whales were caught in 1988 alone, but the main threat to Long-Finned Pilot Whales has been coastal hunts. They have been taken in this way for centuries in the Northern Atlantic, mainly off Newfoundland and the Faroe Islands, with the average annual kill from the latter being 1,552 during 1936-78. In 1941 alone, 4,325 were taken by the Faroe Islands, and this number has been steadily rising. Despite protests and campaigns the Faroese will not cease their cull, where the seas really do run red...
Source: CETACEA
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