Although the species quite often displays above water, groups are quite often seen 'rafting' on the surface - presumabley resting. Both species have extremely long tappered flippers and are dark brownish grey to black in colour. They are about 1.8m long at birth. Found in warm temperate and tropical waters worldwide, these odontocetes are not usually found north of 50 degrees, or south of 40 degrees. The largest recent catches have occured off Japan, where coastal whale fisheries account for a few hundred annually and in the Caribbean.
Pilot whales are a highly social species with a wide vocal repertoire.
They dive deep to feed, it is thought predominantly, on the squid they find there. Their complex social structure includes females suckling the young of their relatives, for up to 15 years after they become post reproductive at an age of about 35 years. The extremely tight bonds of this matrilinear social structure may account for the frequent mass strandings involving pilot whales.