On the other hand, exceptional female individuals may attain a maximum known weight of about 2,600 lb (1,200 kg). As a result of this tendency, these males sometimes reach a maximum measured weight of 4,900 lb (2,200 kg). However, exceptional male individuals do tend to attain a greater length and weight. Therefore, each gender typically attains an average body length of about 16.1 ft (4.9 m). However, in the case of this species, the visible physical difference remains very slight.ĭue to this fact, individuals of both genders of this particular species attain roughly the same size. While the IUCN does include it on the Red List of Threatened Species, its current status remains Data Deficient.īeluga Whale Narwhal Hourglass Dolphin Source: ĬC License: False Killer Whale Physical Descriptionįirstly, the False Killer Whale, like many related species displays a certain degree of sexual dimorphism.

Due to such activities, in addition to other dangers, it now faces grave concerns for its future.

Additionally, this predominantly occurs in Japan, where it, unfortunately, remains the target of organized hunting drives.

However, due to its depredation of fishing lines, it continues to be routinely hunted in parts of its endemic range.

As a result of this behavior, it remains the only member of its group to ride bow waves on a regular basis.

This species also exhibits the same spirit of playfulness that the smaller and better-known dolphin species do.This impressive ocean species actually represents one of the largest members of the dolphin family. Thus, the remarkable animal isn’t a whale at all. Despite the common name, the False Killer Whale is a member of the Blackfish group.Chapman CC License: False Killer Whale Facts The sky was unusual due to the ash but this created ideal light for documenting these incredible and rapid marine mammals.Īn atypical event that “ Pulpo” immortalized in this video.Source: Photographer: C.C. These two images of us were taken by Stephen and make up part of an unforgettable photographic file. Together in a small boat, Stephen Johnson was taking photographs and Daniel “Pulpo” Casielles in his wetsuit and his video camera prepared in an underwater housing. Pablo pulled us from the project and stuck us into a tandem ocean-kayak and two minutes later we were five neighbors kayaking amongst the False Orcas. Del Nomade was in construction and with Cecilia, my wife, we had spent the last year and a half immersed and focused on the building Project, to the point that I have no recollection of even going on a whale watching tour in all that time. I was able to capture these images thanks to the incessant invitations of Pablo Passera, owner and guide of Patagonian Explorers, dedicated to trekking and kayak expeditions. There are some areas with a greater propensity for sightings of this species like the Cebu islands in the Philippines, the east coast of Australia, the Eastern Caribbean Sea and Hawaii. False Orcas live in Open Ocean, are not sociable with boats and are seldom observed. On the morning of the fifth day, they had abandoned the bay and were not seen again, fortunately, no observations were made of dead or beached individuals. These two separate and isolated events emphasize the theory of magnetic navigation with these marine mammals. Some time ago, while observing photographs of this event and having a conversation with a visitor at Del Nomade, Doug Bertan, a producer from the National Geographic Society, he commented that the only time he has observed False Orcas was ten years ago along the coast of California and coinciding with a volcanic eruption that had created similar atmospheric conditions in the area. The cloud contained a high percentage of quartz and other minerals that could have affected their biological radar, disorienting and complicating the dolphin’s ability to navigate.

The immense volcanic cloud covered the sky well beyond the horizon and in all directions. Several neighbors went out in kayaks or small boats to better observe these beautiful creatures and attempt to document this unforgettable and singular event. The group was comprised mainly of mothers and their calves, of both species, swimming together from one side of the bay to the other, back and forth, moving in circles and not stopping over a four day period before disappearing. Killer Whale in Península Valdes – kayak Canoe

False killer whale