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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 longlines. False killer whales around 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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An outgoing, large dolphin, 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. False killer whales exhibit strong social bonds. They have often been observed sharing food and supporting injured members of a
pod. 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. False killer whales 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. False killer whales are bycatch or have interactions with a number of fisheries. They have been recorded interacting with Hawaii's longline fisheries and bottomfish False killer whales ingest marine debris. Plastic particles containing harmful chemicals such as PCBs and DDEs can also cause intestinal injury or blockage. False killer whales are quite distinct from true killer whales and rarely attack mammalian prey. They share a very similar skull. 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 | Whale and Dolphin Research l Marine WIldlife Tours | Photos l Other Resources l Wild
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False killer whales can be found at the
broadest range of depths of all cetaceans in Hawai'i. They are found throughout the Hawaiian Islands in both shallow and deep
water.
fisheries off the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. These types of interactions can result in injury such
as