Short-finned Pilot Whaleコビレゴンドウ
Globicephala macrorhynchusLC— Least Concern
The short-finned pilot whale is a large, deep-diving member of the dolphin family found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, known for chasing squid at depths exceeding 500 meters as one of the ocean's fastest deep-water hunters. It lives in tightly bonded, matriarch-led pods and is one of the few animals besides humans known to experience menopause, with females living for decades after their reproductive years end. Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a global population estimated around 700,000.
Short-finned Pilot Whale (reference photo)
Species Data
- Classification
- Artiodactyla / Delphinidae Source
- Size
- Males 4–7 m, females 3–5 m
- Weight
- 1–1.8 tons (males can reach about twice the weight of females)
- Lifespan
- Wild: males about 45 years, females about 60 years or more
- Diet
- Piscivore Carnivorous, feeding mainly on deep-sea squid and octopus, chiefly at night; also eats fish and occasionally attacks other marine mammals
- Activity
- Feeds actively at night
- Distribution
- Found in tropical and subtropical waters across the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, including around Hawaii, the Canary Islands, and Japan, with a range that is shifting northward due to warming seas. Source
- Sources
- ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Did You Know?
- Short-finned pilot whales regularly dive beyond 500 m and have been recorded diving as deep as 1,018 m, sustaining the dive for about 21 minutes while hunting squid. Source
- Pods are organized around a matrilineal hierarchy led by an elder female, and within groups of 10–30 individuals, females often outnumber males by roughly 8 to 1. Source
- Females stop reproducing around age 40 despite often living past 60, giving them a long post-reproductive lifespan similar to human menopause—a trait rare among animals. Source
Where to See This Species
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 1
MARINE WORLD uminonakamichiFukuokaFrom JR Hakata Station, take the Kagoshima Main Line 11 minutes to Kashii Station, transfer to the JR Kashii Line (bound for Saitozaki), and ride 20 minutes to Uminonakamichi Station.
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
Least Concern (LC)
Sources
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FAQ
- How deep can short-finned pilot whales dive?
- They dive beyond 500 meters routinely and have been recorded reaching depths of 1,018 meters, staying submerged for about 21 minutes while pursuing squid. Source
- Do short-finned pilot whales go through menopause?
- Yes. Females typically stop reproducing around age 40 despite often living past 60, giving them a long post-reproductive lifespan—one of the few known examples of menopause-like biology outside humans. Source
- How are short-finned pilot whale pods structured?
- Pods of roughly 10–30 individuals are organized around a matrilineal hierarchy led by an elder female, with females typically outnumbering males by about 8 to 1. Source
- How many operating facilities are registered here?
- Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 1 Source
Books & gear
Source: ja.wikipedia.org