Largest pilot whale

The largest species of pilot whale is the short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus, in which adult males have a maximum recorded body length of 7.2 m, and adult females 5.5 m. Adult males weigh up to 3,600 kg. The closely related long-finned pilot whale is very similar externally, but adult males have a maximum recorded length of only 6.7 m and weigh up to 2,300 kg. The short-fin inhabits warm temperate and tropical waters of the Pacific, whereas the long-fin prefers colder temperate zones in the North Atlantic and southern hemisphere waters.

Also sometimes known as blackfish, pilot whales derive their more familiar name from the traditional folk belief that their pods are led by a leader, the pilot, but this is not true. Tragically, however, it may be no bad thing if it were true, with such a leader guiding them safely through the sea, because pilot whales are notorious for beaching themselves en masse, with most of the whales dying if human helpers do not find them quickly or are unable to assist them back into the water.