Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)

            Short-finned pilot whales are black to dark gray/brown, with a thick tail stock, fluke with sharply pointed tips, bulbous head, and a broad, sickle-shaped dorsal fin. Coloration typically includes light grey to white areas such as a saddle patch behind the dorsal fin, a light grey or white anchor-shaped patch under the chin and belly, and a blaze marking behind the eye.

These traits, however, can vary between populations. For example, two distinct forms are described from on the Pacific coast of central Japan: the Shiho morphotype is the larger of the two–females 4–5 m (13–16 ft), males 5–6 m (16–20 ft)–and has a white dorsal patch and round melon, while the Naisa type is smaller–females 3–4 m (9.8–13.1 ft), males 4–5 m (13–16 ft)–with a characteristic flattened or squarish melon and a darker, indistinct saddle patch. When they are born, short-finned pilot whales weigh about 60 kg (130 lb) at a length of 1.4–1.9 m (4 ft 7 in – 6 ft 3 in).

Long-finned and short-finned pilot whales are often hard to tell apart. However, as their names indicate, short-finned pilot whale flippers are shorter than those of the long-finned pilot whale, measuring about 1/6th of the body length. Short-finned pilot whales also have fewer teeth – 7–9 in each row – and a shorter and broader rostrum with a premaxilla that covers more of the maxilla.

Both species exhibit sexual dimorphism and have similar lifespans of about 45 years for males and 60 years for females, with long-finned pilot whales being generally larger than short-finned pilot whales. The two species have limited overlap worldwide; long-finned pilot whales are found in cooler temperate waters, while the distribution of short-finned pilot whales is largely tropical and subtropical.

This image was taken off the coast of Madeira near Funchal.

Taken in: Portugal / Madeira / Santa Maria Maior (show map)

Taken on: November 22, 2022

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Whales

Short-finned Pilot Whales

Funchal

Madeira

Atlantic Ocean

Cetaceans

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Camera: Canon EOS R5, f/8.0, 1/3200 sec, 500mm, ISO 1250 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS R5
Lens:	RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	1/3200 sec
Focal Length:	500mm
ISO:	1250
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Shutter speed priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 11.5 (Windows)
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