Long-Finned Pilot Whale

Globicephala melas

The scientific name of this species means »black globe-head«. Pilot whales are a slow swimming species that do not undertake long distance migrations, but primarily follow their prey. An adult male may be up to 6 m long and weigh about 3.5 tons.

12–15 families of pilot whales habe their feeding grounds in the Strait of Gibraltar, so we can watch them regularly.

• Presence in the Strait of Gibraltar: all year round
• Other names: pothead whale, longfin pilot whale, Atlantic pilot whale, blackfish