The long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas is a toothed whale and can be recognised as such by the single blowhole and the presence of teeth (rather than baleen). It is a member of the dolphin family with a characteristic prominent median notch in the flukes, a smooth crease-less throat and sharply pointed teeth. The long-finned pilot whale reaches up to 6.7 m in length. It has long and slender flippers and small tail flukes. The dorsal fin is low and broad-based and located on the forward third of the back. The head is conspicuously bulbous. It is very dark grey to black in colour above and on the sides but white underneath.Long-finned pilot whales are usually found in large groups of up to 1000 individuals. The blow may be up to 1 m tall. Dives may last up to 10 minutes long (Kinze, 2002).
No one has provided updates yet.