Figure 93. -False killer whales are the only "blackfish" that routinely 

 ride the bow waves of vessels. On this animal riding on the bow wave of a 

 research ship, note the all-black coloration of the back, head, and sides 

 and the broad "hump" near the middle of the flippers on the leading edge. 

 ^Photo 600 miUi [968 km] off northeattem Florida by H. E. Wirm.) 



have stranded in such areas. Records from throughout the 

 range suggest that the species has an oceanic distribution. 



Stranded Specimens 



Stranded false killer whales can be positively identified 

 by: 1) the large size (to 18 feet [5.5 m]): 2) the slender body 

 tapering rapidly to a long slender head; 3) the markedly long 

 mouth, with from 8 to 11 large, conspicuous teeth in each side 

 of each jaw recalling those of the killer whale, but circular and 

 not, as in killer whales, elliptical; 4) the unusually shaped 

 flipper bulging conspicuously on the forward margin. 



For comparison with "blackfish" of similar size (the pilot 

 whales) see p. 92 and 94. 



Figure 94. — A false killer whale stranded in northeastern Florida. Note 

 the narrow tapering head, overhanging the lower jaw by several inches, 

 the position and shape of the dorsal fin and the distinctive "hump" on the 

 leading margin of the flippers. {Photo by W. A. Huck, courtesy of 

 Marineland of Florida. ) 



N 



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