Pilot Whale
Globicephala spp.
Deep-diving dolphins that stick close to their families.
Pilot whale is the shared name for two very social dolphin species with rounded foreheads. Both travel in close family pods and use echolocation to chase prey below the light.
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Quick dive
Creature passport
- Home
- They favor deep temperate or tropical waters, often near continental slopes.
- Favorite foods
- They mostly hunt squid and fishes, especially during deep nighttime dives.
- Size check
- About 13-25 ft (4-7.6 m), depending on species and sex
Tell-your-friends facts
Four wonderfully wild things
- 1
Pilot whales are large dolphins, despite having whale in their name.
- 2
Long-finned and short-finned pilot whales are very hard to distinguish at sea.
- 3
Many pods are centered on related females and stay together for years.
- 4
They sometimes rest at the surface in side-by-side rows.
Ocean superpower
Built to be amazing
Family pods coordinate in darkness using whistles, clicks, and excellent echolocation.
Junior scientist tip
What should I look for?
Look for a dark body, bulbous forehead, and broad backswept dorsal fin.
Grown-up research links
We used trusted science organizations to check this profile.