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false killer whale

File:Pseudoorca_Crassidens_-_False_Killer_Whale.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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false killer whale

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Also known as Pseudorca crassidens, Phocaena crassidens

species of mammal

OverviewAI-generated

The false killer whale, scientifically named *Pseudorca crassidens* (Owen, 1846), is a species of marine mammal. It belongs to the family Delphinidae within the order Cetartiodactyla and class Mammalia. The taxon is classified under the phylum Chordata and has an accepted status in biological records. Common names for this animal include Orca Falsa, Faux-orque, and blackfish.

This species exhibits diurnal activity patterns. Its gestation period lasts 15.4 months, and it typically gives birth to a litter size of 1. The longest observed lifespan for a false killer whale is 62.5 years. The IUCN Red List assessed the species as Near Threatened in 2018. The taxon range is listed as Marapanim.

Synthesized by Vinony from 27 facts across 4 sources: Wikidata, WoRMS, IUCN Red List, Vinony graph. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.

Species

Near Threatened

blackfish

Species

  1. PhylumChordata
  2. ClassMammalia
  3. OrderCetartiodactyla
  4. FamilyDelphinidae
Habitatmarine

Maximum longevity: 62.5 years (captivity) Observations: One captive specimen was still alive at 33.6 years of age (Richard Weigl 2005). Females are estimated to live over 62 years.

via IUCN

Wikidata facts

Instance of
taxon
Parent taxon
Pseudorca
Image
False killer whale 890002.jpg
Show 13 more facts
taxon rank
species
IUCN conservation status
Near Threatened
taxon name
Pseudorca crassidens
Commons category
Pseudorca crassidens
Commons gallery
Pseudorca crassidens
taxon common name
mala sabljarica
gestation period
15.4
litter size
1
longest observed lifespan
62.5
taxon author citation
(Owen, 1846)
diel cycle
diurnality
short name
P. crassidens
taxon range
Marapanim
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~16 min read

Encyclopedic overview

The false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) is a species of oceanic dolphin that is the only extant representative of the genus Pseudorca. It is found in oceans worldwide but mainly in tropical regions. It was first described in 1846 as a species of porpoise based on a skull, which was revised when the first carcasses were observed in 1861. The name "false killer whale" comes from having a skull similar to the orca or killer whale (Orcinus orca).

The false killer whale reaches a maximum length of 6 m (20 ft), though size can vary around the world. It is highly sociable, known to form pods of up to 50 members, and can also form pods with other dolphin species, such as the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). It can form close bonds with other species, as well as have sexual interactions with them. But the false killer whale has also been known to eat other dolphins, though it typically eats squid and fish. It is a deep-diver; maximum known depth is 927.5 m (3,043 ft); maximum speed is around 30 km/h (19 mph).

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “false killer whale” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (12)