Education Marine Mammal Species Information - Marine Mammal Conservancy (MMC)
Short-Finned Pilot Whale
(Globicephala macrorhynchus)
The Short-Finned Pilot Whale can reach a length of 21.5 feet and
weigh as much as 4 tons. Pods range in size from 10 to 30 and may
congregate in the hundreds on rare occasions. There is a Long-Finned
Pilot Whale and this species can be found in the colder waters of
the North Atlantic as well as the colder waters of the southern
oceans. The short-finned pilot whale is mostly found in warmer waters.
Pilot whales tend to follow the migrations of their favorite prey,
squid, though they are also considered nomadic by nature. Pilot
whales feed mostly on squid, but are known to eat fish as well.
Unfortunately, pilot whales tend to strand both individually and
in mass herds.
|
