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A group of 20 to 30 False Killer Whales have been sighted off Cozumel, said the island's Marine Park, last week. Despite their name, these beautiful sea mammals are amongst the largest members of the dolphin family. |
Known scientifically by their latin name, Pseudorca Crassidens, they live in temperate and tropical waters and share characteristics with the more widely known killer whale, or orca.
Due to their size they are often confused with other species.
The Marine Park said that staff didn't have the opportunity to take photos, but did manage to record a short video, available on YouTube.
The adults are typically between 15 and 20 feet long (4.5 to 6m) and weigh 3,300 to 4,400 pounds (1.5 to 2 tonnes). They have a dorsel fin up to a foot in length (30cm).
They usually live in groups of 10 to 60 individuals and are social creatures, but the Marine Park stressed that people should not enter the water to swim with them if sighted again, since it is not certain how they would react.
Although not technically an endangered species, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says that their rarity makes them potentially vulnerable to threats globally, such as being caught in fishing nets, falling fish stocks or underwater noise caused by humans.
