Shortfinned+Pilot+Whale

=Short-finned Pilot Whale=

The scientific name of the sort finned pilot whale is globicephala macrorhyhchu ..

**MORPHOLOGY**

Short-finned pilot whales are larger members of the dolphin group reaching average lengths of 12 feet (3.7 m) for females and 18 feet (5.5 m) for males with maximum male size of 24 feet (7.3 m). Adult weight is 2200 to 6600 pounds (1000 to 3000 kg). They have a bulbous melon head with no discernable beak. Their dorsal fin is located far forward on the body and has a relatively long base. Body color is black or dark brown with a large gray saddle behind the dorsal fin.

shortfinned pilot whale genus level

Commerson's Dolphin Pilot whales, mother and calf, Hawaii

HabitatShort-fined pilot whales may congregate in large numbers offshore — schools of several hundred have been observed — but group size usually ranges from 10 to 60. They are seen inshore at infrequent intervals and occasionally become stranded by severe storms. In fact, these are among the most frequently stranded of cetaceans, and often mass strand. These dolphins have mass stranded 15 times in the Gulf of Mexico, although none of these events occurred in Texas. Pilot whales are highly communicative and make a variety of sounds, including noises described as "squealing, whistling, loud smacking, whining, and snores." They probably are excellent echolocators.The short-finned pilot whale is found throughout most of the tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

.Short-finned Pilot Whales can be confused with their relatives the long-finned pilot whales, but there are various differences. .Short-finned pilot whales are larger members of the dolphin group reaching average lengths of 12 feet for females and 18 feet for males.
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