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Category of Organisms
Marine Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum/Division
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Cetacea
Family
Delphinidae
Genus
Pseudorca
Species
crassidens
Binomial Name
Pseudorca crassidens
Author
Owen, 1846
Common Name
False killer whale
Local Name
Size Range
At birth and is 1 meter (3 ft) long. An adult grows up to 3 meters (10 ft) long. May weigh 1,500 kg
Environment/Habitat
The melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra, is found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, most commonly in the Philippine Sea. They favor warm, pelagic waters. Melon-headed whales travel in pods of 100-1,000, although even larger pods have been reported.
Importance/Value
Resilience
Endemic
No
Found in Marine Park
No
Found in Malaysia
Yes
Distribution
Morphology/Character
The body is very slim and has a markedly curved dorsal fin that sits far down the back. With the exception of a pale, anchor-shaped spot between the flippers, the body is uniformly black. This spot is not as noticeable as that on the body of a Long-Finned Pilot Whale. However, this very narrow head has a slightly receding brow and a snout that overhangs the lower jaw. This area around the blowhole is depressed which can clearly be seen in profile and helps to identify the animal on the high seas. There is a noticeable bent (“elboe”) in the middle of the leading edge of each flipper.
The False Killer Whale is a social animal, living in groups of 10–50. It is a fast and very active swimmer. It may breach or jump clear of the water and will often land on its side with a big splash. On other occasions the dive may be very graceful, leaving very little wake at all. It will readily approach boats and bow- and wake-ride. It may also emerge from the water head held high upwards and with the mouth open.
Biology
Sexual maturity : female at about 2-4 years, males at 8-14 years. Mating season is all year. Gestation period is 11-12 months, perhaps up to 15.5 months. Have 14-24 strong conical teeth in each of the jaws.
Miscellaneaous
Status in IUCN Red List
Data Deficient (DD)
Status in CITES Species Database
II
Researcher(s)
Reference(s)
RALF KIEFNER, WHALES & DOLPHINS CETACEAN WORLD GUIDE, PUBLISHED BY IKAN, Page: 191
Other Link(s)
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/18596
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_Killer_Whale
Collection Record
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