Photo: Long Finned Pilot Whales Gulf Of St Lawrence Canada

Two Long Finned Pilot Whales, proper name Globicephala melas, are seen swimming alongside each other during a whale watching excursion from Pleasant Bay in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Long-Finned Pilot Whales are one of two species of whales in the Genus Globicephala, which actually belongs to the Dolphin family, Delphinidae, although they are much closer to whales than dolphins. This is similar to the Orca Whales, who are actually classified as dolphins as well.

As can be seen in the photograph, the Pilot Whales are dark grey or black in colour, with a white stripe behind each eye. It also has a large bulbous head, and is sometimes called the 'pothead' whale, because its head reminds people of the large inside of an old-fashioned cooking pot.

These animals are very social animals and can be known to travel in groups together of up to a hundred whales. When whales are found stranded on beaches, they are often Pilot Whales because ... continue below the picture...

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... the bond between family members and the pod are so strong that if one whale gets stranded then the rest follow out of the desire to be with the dead whale.

The area of Pleasant Bay is known for whale watching and tourists go there to get a chance to see these amazing animals up close in their natural habitat. It is located on the western coast of Cape Breton Island.

Long-Finned Pilot Whales, Globicephala melas, seen during a whale watching excursion from Pleasant Bay in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.