Family: Delphinidae, Ocean Dolphins view all from this family

Description To 23' (7 m). Robust; black overall, anchor-shaped gray patch on chin, gray area on belly, sometimes light chevrons extend posteriorly from each side of blowhole, gray saddle sometimes behind dorsal fin. Head thick, bulbous, sometimes flattened or squarish in front, especially in older males. Flippers relatively short, one-sixth body length. Dorsal fin falcate, low, with long base, far forward on back.

Similar Species Long-finned Pilot Whale, (G. melaena) has flippers one-fifth body length. False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens) has less robust body; less bulbous head.

Habitat Tropical and temperate waters from outer edges of continental shelves seaward, sometimes close to shore.

Range In Atlantic from New Jersey to Venezuela, including Gulf of Mexico; known from Delaware Bay. In Pacific from Gulf of Alaska to Guatemala.

Discussion The Short-finned Pilot Whale is also called the Blackfish, Pothead, Pilot Whale, and Shortfin Pilot Whale. Off California, the scientific name G. scammoni is sometimes applied. These whales often occur in very large herds and are frequently stranded in masses. In the Lesser Antilles they are killed for both oil and meat, and hunted with harpoons from open boats. They feed on squids and fishes. Short-finned Pilot Whales have been reported to "spy-hop," or "pitchpole" (hang vertically in the water with their head out), but they rarely breach. They do not ride bow waves of boats. When resting on the surface, individuals often position themselves side by side in long lines. Their habit of slapping their flukes on the surface is called lobtailing.