Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae
July to November
ID characteristics
Uniformly black, long and slender body. Conical head with a low but quite pronounce melon-like forehead
Erect, falcate dorsal fin, narrow-based, like a parallelogram with roundish top, set on mid-back.
Surface behaviour
Typically fast moving, energetic and acrobatic. Often approaches boats and bow-rides
When surfacing may raise head and much of body out of the water
Distribution
Widespread between parallels 45º North and 50º South
Worldwide in deep tropical, subtropical and warm temperate waters
Social
In groups of 10 to 50 individuals
Diet
Squid, fish and sometimes seals
Biometrics
Max length: 6.1 m
Adult weight: 1 to 2.2 ton
Blow
Short, bushy shaped blow
IUCN Status: Data deficient
Madeira frequency status: Common
Other languages common names
ENG - False pilot whale, Pseudorca GER - Kleine schwertwal, Unechter, Schwarzer schwertwal FRA - Fausse orque ESP - Falsa orca, Orca negra SWE - Falsk späckhuggare DAN - Halvspækhuggeren ITA - Pseudorca NED - Zwarte zwaardwalvis NOR - Halvspekkhoggar, Falsk spekkhoggar POL - Orka karłowata, Szablogrzbiet, Orka fałszywa
POR - Falsa orca
