The tropical pilot whale

​General description
The tropical pilot whale, or Short-finned pilot whale, is distinguished by its round and bulbous head, without an apparent rostrum. Its body, robust and elongated, is often black or dark brown, with a massive anterior part that gradually tapers towards the rear. Its dorsal fin is characteristic: located further forward than in other dolphins (in the first third of the body), it has a low profile, wide and rounded at its tip.

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Habitat
This cetacean prefers tropical, subtropical and warm temperate waters. Although it is mainly pelagic, living offshore, it can also be observed near the coast. Tropical pilot whales are remarkable divers, capable of exploring depths exceeding 1,000 meters and remaining underwater for more than 10 to 15 minutes. However, most of their dives are at more modest depths, between 30 and 500 meters, where squid and other prey are more abundant.

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Diet
The short-finned pilot whale is an opportunistic hunter, adapting its diet to the available prey. It consumes between 20 and 45 kg of food per day, mainly cephalopods such as squid and octopus, but also fish when the opportunity arises.

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Behavior
Highly sociable, short-finned pilot whales live in groups of 25 to 50 individuals, but these herds can gather in hundreds of individuals during exceptional events, such as food abundance or reproduction. Polygamous, the groups are often made up of one adult male for eight adult females. Females generally remain in the same group for their entire life, while males leave temporarily to mate with other groups. These cetaceans also sometimes interact with other marine species, showing their gregarious and adaptable nature.

Family : Delphinidae​​