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False Killer Whales are also known as "blackfish". False killer whales are infamous in the fishing industry for stealing valuable fish from baited longline's.
The false killer whale and short-finned pilot whale are two of the cetacean species that have been observed taken by the longline fishery that operates in the central Pacific. False killer whales have a relatively low reproductive rate and have been known to strand together in large numbers. Ovulation occurs only once per year, with gestation taking 15 months, after which a single calf is born. They nurse for about 2 years. Their average interbirth interval is 7 years. This interval increases with age, and females more than 45 years old may be menopausal. Interspecific mating in false killer whales has been described in literature. In some cases, hybrids were born, some of which were even fertile.
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Though false killer whales share a very similar skull with true killer whales, they are quite distinct from them and rarely attack mammalian prey.
An outgoing, large dolphin who exhibit strong social bonds, false killer whales are usually found in pods of ten to twenty - in Hawaii they can belong to larger groups of up to 40 individuals. They have often been observed sharing food and supporting injured members of a pod. These intriguing marine mammals have a breeding season that lasts several months. Females become reproductively mature around 10 years of age, but males may not reach maturity until about 18. They can live to 58 years for males and 62 years for females who go through menopause. False killer whales are bycatch of or have interactions with a number of fisheries. They have been recorded interacting with Hawaii's longline and bottomfish fisheries off the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. These types of interactions can result in injury such as dorsal fin disfigurement or death. Dorsal fin disfigurement may affect reproduction and survival as dorsal fins help control body temperature. Plastic particles containing harmful chemicals such as PCBs and DDEs have been ingested by false killer whales, and can also cause intestinal injury or blockage. They have a small conical head without a beak. Their dorsal fin is tall and their
flippers have a distinctive hump or bulge in the middle of the front edge. False killer whales have dark coloration except for some lighter patches near the throat and middle chest. Their body shape is rather slender. Our wildlife tours focus on education and conservation so that an interactive relationship can be maintained in the best interest of both humans and dolphins. We strive to foster admiration and deep respect for these wonder-ful marine mammals. False Killer Whale Pictures, Taken on our Charters! Humpback Whales l Sperm Whales l Beaked Whales l Pygmy Whales l Pilot Whales l Melon-headed Whales l False Killer Whales l Monk Seals | Dolphins in Hawaii l Sea Turtles l Albatross l Coral Spawning l Manta and Spotted Eagle Rays l Sharks of Hawaii | Snapping Shrimp NEW Whale and Dolphin Research l Marine WIldlife Tours | Photos l Other Resources l Wild
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In Hawai'i, false killer whales feed primarily on mahi mahi and yellowfin tuna. To increase success of finding prey, they travel in a broad band that can be up to several
miles wide and are found in both shallow and deep
water.