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Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are distributed in all oceans (...here...). The IUCN Red List of threatened species classifies this species as data deficient. Recent research results have shown surprising life patterns for this relatively unknown cetacean species. First conclusions indicate that they form stable matrilineal kinship groups (...here...) and supposingly use call dialects (...here...). During 20 minute long and more than 1,000m deep dives (...here...) they may search and hunt for giant squids (...here...) with a -for an aquatic mammal- unique hunting strategy . In the focus of hundreds of thousands of whale watchers per year (...here...), short-finned pilot whales represent an exciting dolphin species. pilot-whales.org wants to provide a vivid picture of this species and uses original acoustic (...here...) and visual (...here...) research recordings. Furthermore, pilot-whales.org provides scientific guidance on several biological life aspects of this species obtained from own research and from reports of the scientific community.
Short-finned pilot whales are one of the main target species of the global whale watching industry. The hotspot is the southwest coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands. Pilot whales are encountered by thousands of whale watchers mostly in the context of boat-based excursions (...here...). During encounters with human swimmers they were reported to show threatening as well as affiliative behaviors (...here...). Own research (...here...) revealed 11 different interactive behaviors initiated by free-ranging pilot whales and directed to human swimmers (...here...).
Next to short-finned pilot whales more than 20 free-ranging whale and dolphin species have been encountered by human swimmers, divers and waders in open water environments. 
Short-finned pilot whales often live in coastal waters (...here...) and are confronted with a variety of anthropogenic impacts. In archipelagos such as the Canary or Hawaiian Islands they have to cope with maritime traffic and particularly with fast and high-speed ferries. Scars and dorsal injuries reveal that pilot whales are victims of ship strikes and it is likely that their acoustic communication will be somehow affected by underwater noise (...here...). It still remains an open question why whales do not avoid a collision by moving out of an approaching ship's path (...here...). See also the current field study (...here...).
Like most cetacean species, short-finned pilot whales use a diverse acoustic signal repertoire in order to communicate with conspecifics (...here...), to navigate, to explore and to search for prey (...here...). During encounters with human swimmers, pilot whales emit echolocation clicks and direct them to their novel and unusual counterparts (...here...). Their sophisticated acoustic communication system is vulnerable to underwater noise disturbance. Especially in the context of boat-based whale watching, acoustic signals can be potentially masked by engine and propeller noise (...here...).
Click ...here... to see and mainly hear a group of short-finned pilot whales communicating (.mov file with 5.9 MB). The whales emit a variety of sounds such as clicks, whistles, grunts and calls.
Short-finned pilot whales have distinctive markings and can be individually photo-identified (...here...). Researchers have globally used this technique to study the pilot whale social structure by analysing indivual association patterns (...here...). They found that short-finned pilot whales form stable social groupings, and further evidence (...here...) suggests that they live in matrilinear kinship groups. Within these they show a variety of acoustic (...here...) and non-acoustic (...here...) communication behaviors. Presumably they use call dialects (...here...) for the behavioral synchronization among group members. 
News |
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(01.05.13) Pilot whale documentary
(08.04.13) Conference presentation
(30.03.13) Sound library
(16.03.13) Social structure
(10.03.13) New video
(30.01.13) Photo library
(01.12.12) TV broadcast
(01.12.12) New videos
(29.11.12) Video library
(30.10.12) Vessel noise
(30.10.12) Field study
(01.10.12) Field study
(15.06.12) New report
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