Long-finned pilot whale
Globicephala melas
- Scientific name
- Globicephala melas
- Group
- Marine mammals
- Rarity
- Rare
- Where to see it
- Temperate Atlantic / English Channel, Mediterranean
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
The long-finned pilot whale lives in tight-knit pods of dozens of individuals, often led by an older female who guides the group to food. This extreme social bonding can unfortunately cause entire pods to strand together on beaches.
What defines this group — Marine mammals
Warm-blooded, they nurse their young and breathe air — the group closest to us underwater.
- They breathe through a blowhole (whales, dolphins) or nostrils (seals, sea lions).
- A thick layer of blubber, rather than fur, insulates them from the cold.
- Many navigate and hunt by sound, using echolocation.