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Pair of dolphins swimming in the ocean with dorsal fins visible above water.
Two pilot whales swimming closely in the ocean, partially submerged in waves.
Pod of dolphins swimming and surfacing in the ocean.
Two dolphins swimming in the ocean with fins above the water.

Short Finned Pilot Whale

General Information
Life Span
63 years
Occurrence in Faro
occasional
Pod Composition
15-50, sometimes several 100s
Max Speed
32 km/h
Max Size
7.2 m
Sightings
Very Rare
Diet
mainly squid, occasionally fish
Dive
800-900m, 27 min
Two pilot whales swimming closely in the ocean, partially submerged in waves.
Pod of dolphins swimming and surfacing in the ocean.
Pair of dolphins swimming in the ocean with dorsal fins visible above water.
Two dolphins swimming in the ocean with fins above the water.

SHORT FINNED PILOT WHALE

Globicephala macrorhynchus

The short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) is a large, robust dolphin with a rounded head and no distinct beak. Despite its name, it is actually a member of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). This species is highly social, living in strong, matrilineal pods that can include dozens of individuals, and group cohesion is a defining feature of its behaviour. It feeds mainly on squid and sometimes fish, performing deep foraging dives that may reach over 600 metres. Short-finned pilot whales are found in tropical and warm-temperate oceans worldwide, generally in deep offshore waters along the continental slope. In Portugal, they are occasionally observed in the southern regions, including off Faro, but sightings are rare.

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