Short-finned Pilot Whale

Like the orca, the short-finned pilot whale is a member of the dolphin family. It lives in tropical and warm temperate waters throughout the world's oceans. Short-finned pilot whales have a large, rounded head and a very large dorsal fin. They are black to dark brown or gray in color, and they have a light patch (a saddle patch) just behind their dorsal fin. Short-finned pilot whales are very sociable and gregarious; they congregate in pods and communicate using complex rasping sounds and squeals. Like orcas, pilot whale pups are cared for by both their mothers and the members of the pod. Pilot whales use echolocation to hunt prey and locate objects in the water.