ATLANTIC PILOT WHALE (T) 



Globicephala melaena (Traill 1809) 



Other Common Names 



Northern pilot whale, long-finned pilot whale, pothead, 

 blackfish. calling whale, caa'ing whale. 



Description 



Male Atlantic pilot whales reach an average length of at 

 least 20 feet (6.2 m). Females are slightly smaller, probably 

 not e.xceeding 18 feet (5.5 m). Young are 5-7 feet (1.5-2.1 m) at 

 birth. 



The head is thick and bulbous, a characteristic which 

 reaches an extreme in the development of the head of adult 

 males (prompting the common name "pothead"). The flippers 

 are long (to one-fifth of the body length, or more) and 

 sickle shaped. The tail is dorsally thickened just in front of 

 the tlukes. 



The dorsal fin of this species is one of its most distinctive 

 characteristics. It is low in profile, has a long base, is set far 

 forward on the animal's back, and is falcate to "flaglike" in 

 appearance. The dorsal fin of adult males reportedly has a 

 thicker leading edge and a rounder form than that of the 

 female. 



Atlantic pilot whales are black on the back and sides 

 (prompting the common name "blackfish") but have an 

 anchor-shaped patch of grayish white on the chin and a gray 

 area on the belly, both of which are variable in extent and 

 intensity. Some larger animals have a gray saddle behind the 

 dorsal fin, though this zone of color is found more frequently 



in short- finned pilot whales. Young animals are often a lighter 

 medium gray. 



Natural History Notes 



Atlantic pilot whales may occur in herds of 200 animals or 

 more, though herds of 50 or fewer (4-6) are more common. 

 They are sometimes found in association with Atlantic 

 white-sided dolphins. 



Pilot whales are sometimes found hanging vertically in 

 the water with the head and part of the back out of the water 

 in what has been called "spy hopping" or "pitchpoKng." 

 Individuals frequently lobtail. Pilot whales infrequently 

 breach, a behavior which is usually confined to younger 

 animals. They do not ride bow waves. 



Atlantic pilot whales feed primarily on squid but also take 

 cod and other fishes. A Pacific pilot whale, a closely related 

 species, was found by radio telemetric studies to be capable of 

 diving to 2,000 feet (609.6 m). 



Atlantic pilot whales were formerly the object of an active 

 shore fishery off Newfoundland (1950-1971). In addition, 

 entire herds and, less frequently, individuals are sometimes 

 stranded. 



May Be Confused With 



Atlantic pilot whales are most likely to be confused with 

 false killer whales, with which they share the waters from off 



Figure 97. -A herd of Atlantic pilot whales off Massachusetts. The most distinguishing field characteristic of this species and »' 'heir southern 

 crins, the short-finned pilot whales, is the highly distinctive dorsal fin. extremely long based, low in protJe, and set weU forward on the an.mals 

 backs. {Photo by W. A. WatkiTiS.) 



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