d
"spy-hopping" or "pitchpoling." Individuals frequently lobtail. Pilot
whales infrequently breach, a behavior which is usually confined to
younger animals. They do not ride bow waves.

Atlantic pilot whales feed primarily on squid but also take cod and
other fishes. A Pacific pilot whale, a closely related species, was
found by radio telemetric studies to be capable of diving to 2,000 feet
(609.6 m).

Atlantic pilot whales were formerly the object of an active shore
fishery off Newfoundland (1950-1971). In addition, entire herds and,
less frequently, individuals are sometimes stranded.

May Be Confused With

Atlantic pilot whales are most likely to be confused with false killer
whales, with which they share the waters from off Virginia to those off
Maryland. The two species may be distinguished by the following
characteristics:

ATLANTIC PILOT WHALE FALSE KILLER WHALE

SHAPE OF HEAD

Thick and often squarish in Slender, gently tapering
larger animals. mouth long.

SHAPE OF BODY

Robust. Long and slender.

DORSAL FIN

Broad-based and falcate. Slender, tall, falcate, and
pointed on tip.

COLORATION

Black with gray saddle Mostly black with gray blaze
sometimes evident behind of variable extent and
dorsal fin and gray region intensity on belly between
on chin and belly. flippers.

BEHAVIOR

Will not ride bow waves; May ride bow waves, often
seldom breaches. "porpoises" and breaches.

RANGE

Temperate waters from at Temperate seas from at least
least North Carolina north. Maryland south.

In the extreme southern portion of their range, Atlantic pilot whales
may be confused with short-finned pilot whales with which they have only
a limited seasonal common range. Characters distinguishing these species
are subtle and may not be adequate to permit them to be distinguished at
sea. For purposes of this guide it is generally that pilot whales living
north of lat. 38 deg.N (Virginia coast) are Atlantic pilot whales and those
living south of lat. 38 deg.N are short-finned pilot whales.

Distribution

Atlantic pilot whales, the northernmost of the two pilot