Globicephala

Globicephala is a genus of dolphins, family Delphinidae, known as the pilot whales, comprising two extant species, the long-finned pilot whale and the short-finned pilot whale, ranging nearly worldwide with the long-finned species favoring colder waters and the short-finned species favoring tropical and subtropical waters; the two are not readily distinguishable at sea and are told apart mainly by skull analysis. Pilot whales are among the largest oceanic dolphins, exceeded in size only by the orca, with long-finned adults reaching about 6.5 meters and short-finned males up to 7.2 meters and 3,200 kilograms, and are recognized by a distinctive large, bulbous melon and a robust build.