🌿Native Nature

Long-finned Pilot Whale

Globicephala melas

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Mammalia ›Order: Artiodactyla ›Family: Delphinidae ›Genus: Globicephala

About

The long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) is a large species of oceanic dolphin. It shares the genus Globicephala with the short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus). Long-finned pilot whales are known as such because of their unusually long pectoral fins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Long-finned Pilot Whale?
The scientific name of Long-finned Pilot Whale is Globicephala melas.
What is the conservation status of Long-finned Pilot Whale?
The Long-finned Pilot Whale has a conservation status of Least Concern.
What kingdom does Long-finned Pilot Whale belong to?
Long-finned Pilot Whale belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does Long-finned Pilot Whale belong to?
Long-finned Pilot Whale belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does Long-finned Pilot Whale belong to?
Long-finned Pilot Whale belongs to the class Mammalia.
What order does Long-finned Pilot Whale belong to?
Long-finned Pilot Whale belongs to the order Artiodactyla.
What family does Long-finned Pilot Whale belong to?
Long-finned Pilot Whale belongs to the family Delphinidae.
What genus does Long-finned Pilot Whale belong to?
Long-finned Pilot Whale belongs to the genus Globicephala.

In the News

Pilot whales can’t hear each other over ship noise in Strait of Gibraltar, study finds

The rumble of ship traffic is drowning out the calls of long-finned pilot whales and potentially other marine species in the Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow strip of water between Morocco and Spain that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea. Researchers who investigated this looked at near and long-distance communication between long-finned pilot […]

Mongabay · 6/12/2026