Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae
Sightings in Madeira
All year but mainly from November to April
ID characteristics
Stocky but elongated, medium-sized, blackish body with white anchor-shaped patch on chest Rather long flippers (not as long as on Long-finned Pilot whales), sickled-shaped. Rounded, bulbous forehead with no or tiny beak
Dorsal fin is falcate, sweeping backwards but set forward on body, though very variable with age and sex
Surface behaviour
Slow swimmer at surface, often motionless
Often lobtails and spy-hops
Distribution
Worldwide between parallels 45º North and 40º South
Mid-latitude oceans with tropical and warm temperate seas
Social
In groups from 10 to 30 individuals or more
Diet
Squid and fish
Biometrics
Max length: 7.2 m
Adult weight: 1 to 4 ton
Blow
Bushy shaped and low
IUCN Status: Data deficient
Madeira frequency status: Very Common
Other languages common names
GER - Kurzflossen-grindwal, Indische grindwal FRA - Globicéphale tropical, Baleine pilote ESP - Calderón tropical, Calderón de aleta corta SWE - Kortfenad grindval, Indiska oceanens pilotval DAN - Grindehval ITA - Globicefalo di Gray NED - Indische griend, Kortflippergriend NOR - Kortfinnegrindval POL - Grindwal krótkopłetwy, Pilot
POR - Baleia piloto de aleta curta, Baleia piloto de peitorais curtas, Boca de panela, Boto
