melon-headed whale
Also known as Peponocephala electra, electra dolphin, little killer whale, many-toothed blackfish
species of mammal
Species
Least Concernblackfish
Species
- PhylumChordata
- ClassMammalia
- OrderCetartiodactyla
- FamilyDelphinidae
Habitatmarine
Maximum longevity: 47 years (wild)
via IUCN
~20 min read
Article
The melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra), also known less commonly as the electra dolphin, little killer whale, or many-toothed blackfish, is a toothed whale of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). The common name is derived from the head shape. Melon-headed whales are widely distributed throughout deep tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, but they are rarely encountered at sea. They are found near shore mostly around oceanic islands, such as Hawaii, French Polynesia, and the Philippines.
Taxonomy
Gallery (6)
Connections
Categories
Cetaceans of the Atlantic OceanCetaceans of the Indian OceanCetaceans of the Pacific OceanFauna listed on CITES Appendix IIIUCN Red List least concern speciesMammals described in 1846Mammals of the Dominican RepublicOceanic dolphinsTaxa named by John Edward GrayTaxonbars with 25–29 taxon IDsTaxonbars with automatically added original combinations