Pseudorca Crassidens

The False Killer Whale
By Ryo Miller

http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/22/false-killer-whale-grins-while-hunting-3554895/

On November 12, 2012, the National Fish and Wildlife Service deemed the Hawaiian insular population as an endangered species. The false killer whale is an underwater mammal that is known to subside in tropical to temperate waters all around the globe.

http://us.whales.org/species-guide/false-killer-whale

Genealogy and Appearance:

The false killer whale is actually neither a whale nor are they directly related to killer whales.  These creatures are actually part of the dolphin family.  They weigh approximately 1500 pounds when fully grown, and can grow up to 20 feet (15 feet for females).  Their body is mainly dark gray with some small lighter spots around their belly and throat. They have a round head, a row of sharp teeth and a long dorsal-fin.

Species Behavior:

False killer whales are known to be very social, and don’t seem to be afraid of humans or boats. They travel in pods of around 10-60, and even travel with other species such as the bottlenose dolphin.  Their diets consist mainly of fish and cephalopods.

http://earthjustice.org/slideshow/false-killer-whales-wounded-by-longline-fishing-0

Threats:

According to the WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation group) there are only around 60,000 false killer whales left in the wild. Of those 60,000, it is expected that there are less than 123 left in the insular Hawaii population.  Their population in the hawaiian islands has been damaged through long line fishing and lack of food. False killer whales have become smart enough to steal bait or steal caught fish off of these lines, but sometimes they get caught in the line or are injured by hooks.  On top of this, lowering populations of native fish have also aided in the decline of false killer whales.

Measures Being Taken

The published final rule of the action to be taken regarding False Killer Whales has been put into effect by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, stating “Regulatory measures include gear requirements, longline prohibited areas, training and certification in marine mammal handling and release, captains' supervision of marine mammal handling and release, and posting of NMFS [national marine fisheries service]-approved placards on longline vessels.”

What you can do

You can donate to certain agencies such as the Pacific Whale Foundation, or Whale and Dolphin Conservation.  The next step is just to educate others and be aware of this issue.

Works Cited:

"False Killer Whale." WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation. WDC, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.

"False Killer Whale (Pseudorca Crassidens)." Www.nmfs.noaa.gov. NOAA Fisheries, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.

"False Killer Whale Take Reduction." NOAA Fisheries. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.

"Protecting Hawaii's False Killer Whales." Www.pacificwhale.org. Pacific Whale Foundation, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.

"Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan." Federal Register. N.p., 29 Nov. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.