Globicephala melas
Silhouette: Chris huh · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
The long-finned pilot whale or pothead 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.
Pilot whales get their name from the original belief that there was a "pilot" or lead individual in their groups. The name for the genus, "Globicephala" is derived from a combination of Latin globus ("globe") and Greek kephale ("head"). The specific name "melas" is Greek for "black". This species has also earned the nickname of "pothead whale" in some places because the shape of its head reminded early whalers of black cooking pots.
This species was first classified in 1809 by Thomas Stewart Traill and given the name "Delphinus melas". However, this scientific name was changed later to "Globicephala melaena". Then in 1986, the specific name for this species was reverted to its original form as "melas".
There is sexual dimorphism in the species. Females grow to a maximum length of up to 6 m (20 ft), and... Wikipedia →
Recording0:17
Spain · 2020
© De France Arthur · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
No species of the same family or order lives in Rakiura National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other mammals.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Long-finned Pilot Whale sighting in Rakiura National Park on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 6th most-seen of the 6 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January, April and October
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Long-finned Pilot Whale in Rakiura National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February and May–September, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Long-finned Pilot Whale sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Long-finned Pilot Whale sightings, Rakiura National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Cape Breton Highlands National Park (Canada, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Long-finned Pilot Whale is recorded against all the mammals logged in Rakiura National Park (8 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
