Tag Archives: blackfish

Nov

2017

Species Profile: The Melon-Headed Whale

The Melon-Headed Whale is actually a dolphin and it’s commonly seen in the company of other species in the wild.

Pod of Melon-Headed Whales at the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (Photo: USFWS, Public Domain)

The Melon-Headed Whale is actually a dolphin belonging to the oceanic dolphin family; the Delphinidae. Along with other close species like the false killer whale, the pygmy killer whale, and the pilot whale, it’s also referred to as “blackfish.”

These creatures prefer to swim in very deep waters so they are rarely seen by humans.

The melon-headed whale has a somewhat small and slim, torpedo-shaped body. With a rounded cone-like head hence the name “melon-headed.” Their bodies are uniformly light gray

Oct

2017

The Russian Business Of Killer Whale Trade

Animal rights activists are continuously alarmed over Russia’s killer whale trade.

A Pod Of Killer Whales In Russian Waters (Photo: FEROP)

Although many countries worldwide are gradually ending dolphin capture and entertainment due to the obviously negative effects of captivity on these creatures, countries like China aren’t. And Russia is supplying the required “goods” in large numbers.

In fact, Chinese dolphinariums and aquariums are expanding and drawing large crowds with Russian dolphins and whales on display. The most common large marine mammals in question

Oct

2017

Species Profile: The Pilot Whale

The Pilot Whale is actually a dolphin and well-known for mass strandings.

A Long Finned Pilot Whale Spy Hopping In Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada (Photo: Barney Moss/Wikimedia Commons cc by 2.0)

Regardless of their name, Pilot Whales are are actually dolphins. There are actually two species of pilot whale in the genus Globicephala. These are the long-finned pilot whale and the short-finned pilot whale.

They both have the same black or dark gray body color and shape. Hence, it’s almost impossible to tell them apart out at sea. So analyzing their skull structure is the best way to identify each

Oct

2017

Viral Killer Whale Video: 7 Of The Best Ever

Our Killer Whale video roundup features real footage of the apex marine predators at their element.

Our Compilation Of Killer Whale Videos Will Keep You On The Edge Of Your Seat.

Killer Whales, or Orcas, are likely the most majestic, beautiful, yet frightening creatures out in the Earth’s waters today.

This is the ultimate apex predator and no other large sea creature is safe from it: Not even the Blue Whale!

Lucky for us, they don’t target humans as prey and can even be quite friendly out in the wild. So, we’ve searched for the most popular killer whale videos from recent years up till 2017 and

Sep

2017

5 Of The Largest Dolphins That Are Also Called Whales

These are the largest dolphins today and they are all referred to as “whales.”

Melon-Headed Whale: Largest Dolphins

Dolphins remain one of the most popular marine creatures among humans and that’s understandable.

Their friendly disposition and interesting antics makes us want to watch them as much as possible. But did you know that there are a number of marine mammals that you may think are whales but they are actually dolphins?

It’s not hard to see why this mix-up happens all the time especially as each one has the word “whale” as part of its common name. Also, these whale/dolphins are the largest in the dolphin family.

After the true whales (blue whale, gray whale, etc), the dolphins below are the largest mammals you can find in the waters.

The 5 Largest Dolphins Today

5) Pygmy Killer Whale

Sep

2017

10 Of The Most Popular Dolphin Movies Of All Time

The close relationship between dolphins and humans continues from the seas to the screen in these Dolphin Movies.

Though dogs are described as “man’s best friend,” it appears dolphins are becoming quite friendly with humans too.

Among all the creatures in the waters, dolphins are the closest animals to humans and they are a constant source of joy and inspiration. Just watching dolphins play after a hard day’s work is enough to reduce stress in many people.

Their incredible intelligence and pleasant personality makes them ideal candidates for the big

Sep

2017

Species Profile: The False Killer Whale

The False Killer Whale displays a very unique behavior. It will approach divers in the water and offer them its prey.

A False Killer Whale And A Bottlenose Dolphin, Enoshima Aquarium, Japan (Photo: OpenCage/Wikimedia Commons cc by-s.a. 2.5)

The False Killer Whale is the fourth-largest dolphin on Earth (Orcas are the largest) and it’s a member of the Delphinidae: the oceanic dolphin family.

In case you’re wondering why they have “false” attached to their common name, it’s because though the false killer whale shares some similarities with the more popular killer whale (Orca), both species are in different genera. Nevertheless, they still share many similarities like hunting and killing other large marine mammals.

Also, just like Orcas, False killer whales are prone to stealing fish from longlines and this trait exposes them to slaughter by angry fishermen. These fishermen often hunt and shoot the false