False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, they belong to the dolphin family.

The false killer whale, scientifically known as *Pseudorca crassidens*, stands out due to its unique place within the dolphin family, Delphinidae. Despite its somewhat misleading common name, this species shares more behavioral traits with its smaller, more vibrant dolphin relatives than with the killer whale, to which its skull morphology is similar. Its appearance is characterized by a dark grey to black coloration, which may appear slightly paler in bright light, and a long, slender body that highlights its graceful yet powerful form.

Notably, the false killer whale exhibits a small, conical head with a non-bulbous melon and lacks a discernible beak, distinguishing it from many other cetaceans. The species is recognized for its relatively narrow-based, falcate dorsal fin located midway along its back and its distinct bulge on the leading edge of its flippers, which contributes to its streamlined and efficient movement through the water. These physical attributes, along with its engaging and exuberant behavior, make the false killer whale a fascinating subject of study and observation in the marine world.

Quick facts

Length

Male: 6m

Female: 5,1m

Calf: 2,1m

Weight

Adults: 2,200 kg

Calves: 80 kg

Habits

Dive Time

4-18 min

Dive Depth

<1000m

Reproduction

60-80 years

Life Span:

14-16 months

Gestation period:

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

The false killer whale displays highly social behaviors, forming groups that vary significantly in size, typically ranging from 10 to 60 individuals. These groups, or ‘clusters’, consist of closely related individuals of mixed age and sex and are noted for their strong social bonds, with long-term associations lasting up to 15 years being common. Similar to ‘pods’ in killer whales, females, and possibly males, tend to remain within the social group they were born into, underscoring the species’ complex social dynamics.

Dive sequence

@Georgina Cabayol

Behavior

Socializing +

False killer whales display curiosity towards snorkelers and divers, occasionally engaging in interactive behaviors such as offering fish, showcasing their sociable nature and interest in human activity in the water.

Resting +

Unlike certain other cetaceans, false killer whales rarely exhibit passive resting behaviors by floating motionless at the water’s surface, suggesting a more active lifestyle even during periods of reduced activity.

Foraging & Diet +

False killer whales primarily hunt large fish and squid, often employing cooperative feeding strategies and sharing prey among group members. They’ve been observed harassing sperm whales in certain regions, likely as a form of kleptoparasitism to obtain food.

Predators

False killer whales face predation from killer whales as well as large sharks like tigers and great whites, with documented instances of attacks highlighting the challenges they encounter in their marine environment.

https://wwhandbook.iwc.int/en/species/false-killer-whale

Distribution & Movements

Found in tropical to warm temperate waters worldwide, mainly between c. 50°N and c. 50°S, the false killer whale prefers primarily deep oceanic waters but can also occur in shallower waters near coastlines, especially around oceanic islands. It exhibits strong site fidelity to certain areas, such as Hawaii, but is capable of significant movements, with one individual recorded traveling over 7,577km over 104 days.

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual Maturity

8-19 years
Females 8–11 years, males 11–19 years

Gestation Period

14–16 months

Number of Calves

Single calf
Every 6-7 years, born year-round, with regional peaks

Suckling Period

18–24 months
During this period they rely on their mother’s milk for nourishment and growth

Lifespan

60-70 or even 80 years
They grow until around 25 to 30 years of age.

Mating Strategy

Unknown
Despite extensive research, the specific mating behaviors and strategies of false killer whales remain unknown

Species in the Azores

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whales are the largest animals in the world and can easily be detected from a great distance.

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

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Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm whales hold the title of largest predator on Earth eating mostly giant squids from the deep oceans.

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

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Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

The Bryde's whale live in the tropical waters, are agile filter feeders and love to perform acrobatic displays.

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

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Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The second-largest whales, swift and streamlined ocean roamers.

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

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Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

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Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

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Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

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Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Elusive deep-divers known for their unique foraging behavior.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

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Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Third-largest whale species on Earth, fast swimmers and deep-divers.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

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Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Noted for extraordinary deep-diving, setting mammalian records in depth and duration

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

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Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Melodic giants with acrobatic displays, known for their haunting songs and intricate social behaviors. Know more!

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

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Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

Notable for their striking body patterns and acrobatic prowess.

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

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Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are highly intelligent and social creatures, famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

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Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Orcas are the apex predators of the marine world, known for their distinctive black and white coloring and complex social structures.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

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Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Large groups of common dolphins, whipping the ocean's surface into a froth, are a familiar and thrilling sight in many parts of the world.

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

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False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale belongs taxonomically to the dolphin family and it often behaves more like one of its energetic and sprightly smaller relatives.

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

View profile

Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

Sowerby’s Beaked Whales are elusive denizens of the North Atlantic, recognized by their slender beaks and distinctive forehead bulges.

Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

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Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is renowned for its heavily scarred appearance and significant size among species referred to as dolphins.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

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Dragoeiro

Dracaena draco

Dragoeiro

Dracaena draco

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

View profile

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Elusive deep-divers known for their unique foraging behavior.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

View profile

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are highly intelligent and social creatures, famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

View profile

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Large groups of common dolphins, whipping the ocean's surface into a froth, are a familiar and thrilling sight in many parts of the world.

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

View profile

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Noted for extraordinary deep-diving, setting mammalian records in depth and duration

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

View profile

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale belongs taxonomically to the dolphin family and it often behaves more like one of its energetic and sprightly smaller relatives.

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

View profile

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

View profile

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Orcas are the apex predators of the marine world, known for their distinctive black and white coloring and complex social structures.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

View profile

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

View profile

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is renowned for its heavily scarred appearance and significant size among species referred to as dolphins.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

View profile

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whales are the largest animals in the world and can easily be detected from a great distance.

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

View profile

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

The Bryde's whale live in the tropical waters, are agile filter feeders and love to perform acrobatic displays.

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

View profile

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The second-largest whales, swift and streamlined ocean roamers.

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

View profile

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Melodic giants with acrobatic displays, known for their haunting songs and intricate social behaviors. Know more!

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

View profile

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

View profile

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Third-largest whale species on Earth, fast swimmers and deep-divers.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

View profile

Whale Watching Azores Essentials

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False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, they belong to the dolphin family.

Quick facts

Length

Weight

Habits

Reproduction

Reproduction

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Near Threatened <img class="graphics-design-i" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tooltip-more-info-futurismo.svg"> Conservation concern, Monitor and protect habitats.

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

Dive sequence

Behavior

Predators

Distribution & Movements

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual Maturity

Gestation Period

Number of Calves

Suckling Period

Lifespan

Mating Strategy

Species in the Azores

Sighting frequency

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Species

Departure Points

Dates

Related Scientific Articles

González, L. (2018): Spatio-temporal distribution of the order Cetacea in the Azores: relationship between biotic and abiotic variables

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Near Threatened

Conservation concern, Monitor and protect habitats.