False Killer Whale

False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens) are named from the similarities in skull morphology with the ‘actual’ Killer Whale. Due to the conical shaped teeth, False Killer Whales are given the scientific name « crassidens », meaning « thick-tooth ». They are a member of the dolphin family and are also known as Black Fish. The Black fish family (named from their black skin color) also includes Killer Whale (Orcinus orca), Pilot Whales (Globicephala spp.), Pigmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata) and Melon-headed Whale (Peponocephala electra).

CHARACTERISTICS

Latin name : Pseudorca crassidens
Suborder : Odotonceti
Family: Delphinidae
Length : up to 6 m
Weight : up to 1 600 kg
Dive time : up to 20 minutes
Dive depth: up to 1000 m
IUCN Status: Near threatened

DESCRIPTION

Color: Uniformly black body. The underside has a thin white line running from the throat to the belly.

Head: elongated, tapered

Fins: Tall dorsal fin placed centrally on the back.

Teeth: 44 teeth in total

LIFE HISTORY

DIET

False killer whales are carnivores, primarily feeding on cephalopods and fish (e.g., billfish, tuna). They are also opportunistically feeding on small marine mammals. They eat up to 5% of their body weight per day. Individuals have been observed sharing food at the surface with members of the group.

REPRODUCTION

Sexual maturity is reached at the age of 8-12 years (females) and 8-10 years old (males).The gestation lasts about 11-16 months and occurs once every 6-7 years. At birth, calves measure around 1.5 meter in length. Matting appears to occur all year, with peaks around January-February and March.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

False Killer Whales are usually found in mixed age and sex groups of 10-30 individuals. False killer whales are active swimmers when they are traveling or feeding. They are known to leap out of water and perform flips on special occasions such as social events.

VOCAL BEHAVIOR

False Killer Whales have a very wide variety of echolocation clicks. They are also communicated by whistles, squeals. You can listen a False Killer Whale echolocation pattern in this recording collected by the Team of Terra Azul.