False killer whales have unusual flippers - they have an 'elbow', like that of the long-finned pilot whale. They are also known to strand. On one tragic occasion, 800 stranded at once.

Subspecies
None.

Life span
Unknown.

Statistics
Body length: 4.3-6m, Weight: 1.1-2.2 tonnes.

Physical description
False killer whales are mostly black on the dorsal surface and the fins, with a white or light grey shape on chest. They have a prominent dorsal fin.

Distribution
This species has one of the largest ranges of all cetaceans. They are found in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate seas.

Diet
False killer whales eat a variety of fish and squid and occasionally other cetaceans. Individuals often share food with each other.

Behaviour
They are often found in schools of hundreds of individuals. They may also be found swimming with other cetaceans, such as bottlenose dolphins.

Conservation status
False killer whales are not listed by the 2000 IUCN Red List.