Pilot Whales

Pilot Whales Latest News

Recently, more than two dozen pilot whales have died after becoming stranded on a remote beach in New Zealand.

About Pilot Whales

• Pilot whales are one of the largest members of the Delphinidae family.
• There are two species of pilot whales: Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and Long-finned pilot whales (G. melas),
• Habitat: Short-finned pilot whales found in tropical and warm-temperate waters, while long-finned species inhabit cold-temperate and sub-polar oceans.
• Distribution: They are distributed in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and seas near Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and India.

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Features of Pilot Whales

• They are characterized by a round bulging forehead, a short beaklike snout, and slender pointed flippers. 
• Both long-finned and short-finned pilot whales are about 4–6 metres (13–20 feet) long.
• Males of both species are larger than females.
• These whales live in groups numbering from dozens to hundreds or even thousands of individuals and feed mainly on squid.
• These groups are based on matrilineal lines – meaning that calves stay with their mothers through adulthood. 
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Least concern

Source: DD News