ually lacking or indistinct on false killer whales.

Neither of the smaller species of blackfish has been reported to ride
bow waves.

Distribution

False killer whales are widely distributed in the pelagic tropical,
subtropical, and warm temperate waters of the western North Atlantic.
They have been reported from off Maryland south along the mainland
coasts of North America, in the Gulf of Mexico from Cuba and the Lesser
Antilles, and from the southeast Caribbean Sea. The species has been
reported from Venezuela.

Stranded Specimens

Stranded false killer whales can be positively identified by: 1) the
large size (to 18 feet [5.5 m]); 2) the slender body tapering rapidly to
a long slender head; 3) the markedly long mouth, with from 8 to 11
large, conspicuous teeth in each side of each jaw recalling those of the
killer whale, but circular and not, as in killer whales, elliptical; 4)
the unusually shaped flipper bulging conspicuously on the forward
margin.

For comparison with "blackfish" of similar size (the pilot whales) see
p. 92 and 94.

False killer whales do not appear to occur frequently in coastal waters,
sandy bays, or estuaries, though entire herds have stranded in such
areas. Records from throughout the range suggest that the species has an
oceanic distribution.

[Illustration: Figure 92.--False killer whales at sea 600 miles (968.0
km) off northeastern Florida. Note the smoothly falcate dorsal fin,
pointed on the tip, and located near the midpoint of the back. Dorsal
fins of this species may also be rounded on the tip but all are sharply
concaved on the rear margin. (_Photo by H. E. Winn._)]

[Illustration: Figure 93.--False killer whales are the only "blackfish"
that routinely ride the bow waves of vessels. On this animal riding on
the bow wave of a research ship, note the all-black coloration of the
back, head, and sides and the broad "hump" near the middle of the
flippers on the leading edge. (_Photo 600 miles [968 km] off
northeastern Florida by H. E. Winn._)]

[Illustration: Figure 94.--A false killer whale stranded in northeastern
Florida. Note the narrow tapering head, overhanging the lower jaw by
several inches, the position and shape of the dorsal fin and the
distinctive "hump" on the leading margin of the flippers. (_Photo by W.
A. Huck, courtesy of Marineland of Florida._)]

[Illustration: Figure 95.--Entire herds of false killer whales sometimes
strand themselves. In this dorsal