Despite their size and look, pilots whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are not, strictly speaking, whales, but a species of dolphin akin to orcas.
Males can reach five meters long (females can reach four meters) and they may weight twice as much as females.
Pilot whales are gregarious - they form pods, the members of which are closely associated (sometimes during their lifetime), which help protect the calves.
These superb images were captured by Spanish filmmaker Rafa Herrero Massieu in the waters off Canary Islands.
