What Is a Group of Whales Called?
The everyday term, and the old whaling-ship word for a very specific kind of gathering at sea.
Quick answer: A group of whales is most commonly called a pod of whales, especially for toothed whales like orcas. You’ll also see gam, an old whaling-ship term for a social gathering of whales (or of whaling crews themselves), along with school and herd.
What Is a Group of Whales Called?
A group of whales is most commonly called a pod — the standard term used across marine biology, especially for toothed whales like orcas and sperm whales, which tend to live in stable, close-knit family units. Gam is a more colorful, historical alternate, specifically describing a social gathering or meeting of whales at sea.
Where Does “Gam” Come From?
“Gam” comes from 19th-century whaling-ship slang, where it originally described a social visit between the crews of two whaling ships that met at sea — swapping news, mail, and supplies during long voyages. The term is documented in whaling-era literature, including Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, and was later extended to describe the whales’ own social gatherings, a nod to the same idea of two groups meeting and mingling.
Whale Pod Facts
- Pod size varies enormously by species — orca pods often number a handful to a few dozen individuals, built around matrilineal family lines.
- Whales are broadly divided into two groups: toothed whales (like orcas, sperm whales, and dolphins), which hunt individual prey, and baleen whales (like humpbacks and blue whales), which filter-feed on tiny organisms in bulk.
- Some whale species, particularly orcas, live in extremely stable, lifelong family pods led by older females.
- Whales communicate over long distances using clicks, whistles, and — in baleen whales — complex, evolving songs that can travel for miles underwater.
- Baby whales are called calves and typically stay close to their mothers for months or years, depending on the species.
Examples in a Sentence
“A pod of orcas surfaced together just off the coast, hunting as a coordinated unit.”
“Old whaling logs describe a gam between two ships that hadn’t seen another sail in months.”
Other Names for a Group of Whales
Pod is the standard, most widely used scientific term, especially for toothed whales. Gam is the historical, whaling-derived alternate. School and herd occasionally appear in older or more general references, though pod remains the term you’ll see most often in modern marine biology.
Test Your Knowledge
1. What is the standard scientific term for a group of whales?
- Pod
- Pride
- Colony
- Troop
2. Where does the term “gam” originally come from?
- Ancient Greek sailors
- Modern marine biology
- 19th-century whaling-ship slang
- Native Hawaiian fishing terms
3. Which of these is a baleen whale?
- Orca
- Humpback whale
- Sperm whale
- Dolphin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a group of whales called?
A group of whales is most commonly called a pod. Gam is a more historical, whaling-derived alternate.
What does gam mean for whales?
Gam originally described a social visit between whaling-ship crews at sea, later extended to describe a social gathering of whales themselves.
What is the difference between toothed whales and baleen whales?
Toothed whales, like orcas and sperm whales, hunt individual prey. Baleen whales, like humpbacks and blue whales, filter-feed on tiny organisms in bulk.
How big is a typical whale pod?
Pod size varies by species, but orca pods often number from a handful to a few dozen individuals, built around family lines.
What is a baby whale called?
A baby whale is called a calf, typically staying close to its mother for months or years depending on the species.