Wholphin
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A wholphin or wolphin is an extremely rare hybrid born from a mating of a female common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) with a male false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens). The name implies a hybrid of whale and dolphin, although taxonomically, both are within the "oceanic dolphin" family, which is within the "toothed whale" suborder.[1][2] The first recorded wholphin was born in a Tokyo SeaWorld, but he died after 200 days.[3] The first wholphin in the United States and the first to survive was Kekaimalu, born at Sea Life Park in Hawaii on May 15, 1985; her name means "from the peaceful ocean".[3] Although they have been reported to exist in the wild,[2] only one is currently in captivity, at Sea Life Park in Hawaii.[1]
Kekaimalu proved fertile when she gave birth at a very young age. The calf died after a few days. However, in 1991, Kekaimalu gave birth once again, to daughter Pohaikealoha. For two years, she cared for the calf, but did not nurse it; it was hand-reared by trainers. Pohaikealoha died at age 9. On December 23, 2004, Kekaimalu had her third calf, daughter Kawili Kai, sired by a male bottlenose. This calf did nurse and was very playful. Only months after birth, it was the size of a one-year-old bottlenose dolphin.[1] All three calves were three-quarters bottlenose dolphin and one-quarter false killer whale.[4] Both Kekaimalu and Kawili Kai remain in captivity and are now part of the normal tour at Sea Life Park.
Family tree
Family tree:
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. “Born at Sea Life Park on May 15, 1985, Keikaimalu was dubbed a wholphin by Sea Life Park’s training staff.”
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Waimanalo Hapa Girl Makes 10!, by Keene Rees
- A 'Wholphin' Is Born at CBS News
