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The short-finned pilot whale (''Globicephala macrorhynchus'') is one of the two species of cetaceans in the genus ''Globicephala''. It is part of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae), though its behaviour is closer to that of the larger whales. Short-finned pilot whales can be confused with their relatives the long-finned pilot whales, but there are various differences. As their names indicate, their flippers are shorter than those of the long-finned pilot whale, with a gentler curve on the edge. They have fewer teeth than the long-finned pilot whale, with 14 to 18 on each jaw. Short-finned pilot whales are black or dark grey with a grey or white cape. They have grey or almost white patches on their bellies and throats and a grey or white stripe which goes diagonally upwards from behind each eye. Adult males may have a number of scars on their bodies. Their heads are bulbous and this can become more defined in older males. Their dorsal fins vary in shape depending on how old the whale is and whether it is male or female. They have flukes with sharply pointed tips, a distinct notch in the middle and concave edges. They tend to be quite slender when they are young, becoming more stocky as they get older. ==Physical characteristics== The short-finned whale has a stocky body, a bulbous forehead, no prominent beak, long flippers sharply pointed at the tip, black or dark grey color, and the dorsal fin set forward on body. The flukes are raised before a deep dive; they may float motionless at the surface, frequently are seen in very large groups, prefer deep water, and may be approached. Their diets are composed of fish, squid, and octopus. Adults males are about 18 feet (5.5 meters) in length, whereas adult females only reach about 12 feet (3.7 meters) in length. Adults can weigh from 2200 to 6600 pounds (1,000-3,000 kg). When they are born, short-finned pilot whales are about long and weigh about . Males live nearly 45 years, whereas females can live up to 60 years.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.arkive.org/short-finned-pilot-whale/globicephala-macrorhynchus/ )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Short-finned pilot whale」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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