False Killer Whales

Sublime landscapes, dense rain forests, beautiful waterfalls and a large variety of wildlife define Montezuma. Scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing are its main pursuit. The coastal waters of Montezuma are profuse with fascinating marine animals; many of those are different kinds of cetaceans. The false killer whales, also known as Pseudocra Crassidens, are third largest type of oceanic dolphins that belong to the family, Delphinidae. False killer whales live over a great range in oceans of temperate and tropical conditions. These include shallow waters of Meditteranean Sea, Red Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Hawaii, offshore regions of Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. Talking of Pacific Ocean, the world’s largest population of false killer whale is found on its eastern tropical portion. There are over 40,000 of them! As the name indicates, false killer whales have a striking physical similarity to Orca whales (also known as killer whales). Furthermore, they both have a same interest in food. They both kill other cetaceans. False killer whales are opportunistic feeders. They prey on numerous fish such mahi-mahi, tuna fish, yellow-tail fish as well as sea mammals like seals, walruses and sea lions. They often feed on marine birds too. The false killer whales have a long, slender charcoal black body, a grey neck which tapers toward the head region. Their jaws bear a set of 44 teeth. The whales have narrowed and short flippers and long sickle shaped dorsal fins. The male whales have an average height of 20 feet weighing 2,300 kg while females are 16 feet long with a weight of 1,200 kg. False killer whales reproduce at a very low rate. They breed with intervals as long as seven years.  In the wild, their average lifespan range from 57 to 63 years. False killer whales are few of the friendly whales. Curious and playful, they will not hesitate to approach humans.

 

False Killer Whales in Montezuma

Montezuma is home to a vast array of aquatic animals. Acting as a haven for marine sports, the tropical town has become a favorite spot for scuba diving and snorkeling. Diving and snorkeling is popular during the dry season, which lasts from December to April. Crystal clear water has a good visibility and allows the divers to observe a vibrant range of sea animals including a group of false killer whales. Playa las Rocas and Playa las Manchas are two great sites for diving and snorkeling. Playa las Manchas is an awesome place for divers. With quite a few diving points, the coastal area of the beach offer sights of some false killer whales. Situated near the southern portion of Montezuma, Playa las Rocas is a well known diving site. It has a few rock formations that prevent high tides, thus creating a perfect setting for novices and children. Drive to Cabo Blanco Marine Reserve where the protected areas are bound to have a number of false killer whales swimming about. Mystically serene, Cabuya Island is bordered by a panoramic ocean that is temptingly flourishing with multifarious species including false killer whales. Tortuga Island can be approached by a short boat trip from Montezuma. Go on tours and dive in an exclusive way. Tambor Bay or Bahia Ballena is nestled in the province of Puntarenas. The horse-shoe shaped bay can be accessed through Montezuma. It has three popular dive sites; Los Muertos, La Chanchito and La Chancha. The sites are in demand among the divers as they have plentiful of species like false killer whales, Orca whales, dolphins eels, fish, sting-rays, manta-rays, sharks, porcupines and many smaller animals at the depth of 8 to 25 meters.

 

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References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_killer_whale

http://www.costacetacea.com/oceantribes/falsekillerwhales.html