There are actually two different species of the Pilot Whale – the Long-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas) and the Short-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus). It can be hard to distinguish them from each other in the water and that is why getting a good count of each one proves to be difficult. These are some of the largest dolphins in the world, second only to the Killer Whale. Sometimes, they are referred to as blackfish due to their coloration.
The Long-Finned Pilot Whales can be up to 25 feet long for the males and 19 feet for the females. The males can tip the scales around 5,000 pounds and the females weigh around 2,900 pounds. They are very stocky and they are either dark gray or black in color. They have a white stripe that runs behind the eye diagonally. The belly is a light gray color and they also have a gray patch on the chin. They have very long pectoral fins called flippers and the dorsal fin is forward on their body.
The Short-Finned Pilot Whales can be up to 18 feet long for the mature males and up to 12 feet in length for the mature females. They vary significantly in weight from 2,200 pound to around 6,600 pounds depending on their location. They have a melon head and they feature a dorsal fin that is far back on the body with a long base.
They are dark brown or black in color with a gray colored saddle located behind the dorsal fin. The pectoral fins are curved but also tapered and narrow. This is the primary difference between them and the Long-Finned Pilot Whale. Still, it can be very hard to tell them apart if you don’t have something to compare them to. Seeing side by side photos of the two species can be a good starting point.
(source:google/http://www.dolphins-world.com/)
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