False killer whale ©M.Dewynter/CARIMAM

False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens)©J.Kiszka

- TAXONOMY
Class : Mammalia
Order : Cetartiodactyla
Infraorder : Cetacea
Parvorder : Odontoceti
Family: Delphinidae
Common names:
English: False killer whale
Spanish: Orca falsa
French: Pseudorque, fausse orque

- MORPHOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR
Morphology: Slender and long body. Narrow and rounded head, without beak. Falcate dorsal fin, relatively small compared to body size.
Color and patterns: Dark body, except for a faint patch on chest.
Body length: 5-6 m
Group size: usually a dozen to few dozens of individuals.
Specific behavior: This species generally shows a rather quiet behavior. It is highly gregarious and well known for mass strandings.
Feeding: it preferentially feeds on large epipelagic cephalopod and fish species, such as tunas, marlin, and dolphinfish. It may also hunt small cetacean species, in particular small delphinids.

- DISTRIBUTION
Global distribution: they occur in tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans, but in some regions the species is also reported in warm temperate waters.
Sightings in the Wider Caribbean region: The species is common in the whole Wider Caribbean region, between the 1 000- and 2 000-meter depth isobaths, along the continental slopes and the insular slopes.

- CONSERVATION
Threats recorded in the Wider Caribbean region: whaling.
IUCN Status: NT (Near Threatened)
SPAW Status: The Flase killer whale is classified in Annex II of the SPAW Protocol since 1991.

Sources :
International Whaling Commission
IUCN (2021) The IUCN redlist of threatened species.
IUCN and Zoological Society of London (2012) National Red Lists
Jefferson T.A., Webber M.A., Pitman R.L. (2015) Marine mammals of the world : a comprehensive guide to their identification. Academic Press.
Kaschner, K., Reeves, R. (2011) LifeWeb species distribution factsheets.
NOOA (2021) Species fact sheets - Marine mammals.
Ocean Science & Logistic (2020) Guide des cétacés de Guyane française. OSL, canopée des Science, Cayenne, Guyane française.
Savouré-Soubelet A., Aulagnier S., Haffner P., et al. (coord.) (2016) Atlas des mammifères sauvages de France volume 1 : Mammifères marins. Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris ; IRD, Marseille.
Society for marine mammalogy-Species fact sheets
SPAW-RAC. (2020). Implementation of the Action Plan for Marine Mammals in the Wider Caribbean Region: A Scientific and Technical Analysis. Authored by Vail, C. and Borobia, M. UNEP, SPAW-RAC.
Ward, N., Bogomolni, A., Potter, C. (2013) A stranding guide to marine mammals of the Wider Caribbean region : An introduction field for stranding responders. Gecko Production Inc. ISBN : 978-1-891694-00-4.