Pseudorca crassidens
The False Killer Whale, Pseudorca crassidens is a slender dark dolphin-size whale of 6m with a small, rounded conical head. Characteristic features include a slender sickle shaped dorsal fin and a prominent bump or bulge on the leading edge of each flipper. Its common name is slightly misleading as its main resemblance to the Killer Whale, is its strong set of large conical teeth.
False Killer Whales have an extensive and wide distribution within tropical and warm temperate waters. They seem to prefer areas of deep water in the open ocean away from land yet they are frequently involved in mass stranding which can wipe out whole schools involving hundreds of animals.
Although no serious conservation concerns exist for this species, some populations most notably off Japan and parts of Asia, have been and still are deliberately hunted. They are also captured for the oceanarium trade and like many cetaceans there are incidental deaths associated with the fishing industry.
The False Killer Whale is an efficient pack hunter. Their diet includes a variety of marine fauna such as squid and a large range of fish species. They have occasionally been observed to attack other whales and dolphins and are notorious for taking species such as yellowfin tuna weighing up to 30kg from longline fishing operations.
This is a highly social species that relies on a high survival rate of young to maintain their population numbers. The gestation period is quite long, 14 - 16 months, with the interval between births estimated around seven years. Care of the young involves considerable investment with calves being nursed for up to two years. Their tendency to mass strand seems to support the existence of strong social affiliations within and between groups.
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Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
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