- Wholphin
A wholphin or wolphin is a rare hybrid, born from a mating of
bottlenose dolphin "Tursiops truncatus" (mother), and afalse killer whale "Pseudorca crassidens" (actually another dolphin species,taxon omically speaking). Although they have been reported to exist in the wild, there are currently only two in captivity, both at Sea Life Park inHawaii .The first captive wholphin was born on
May 15 ,1985 where a female bottlenose dolphin named Punahele and a male false killer whale named Tanui Hahai shared a pool. The wholphin's size, color and shape are intermediate between the parent species. Named Kekaimalu, she has 66 teeth - intermediate between a bottlenose (88 teeth) and false killer whale (44 teeth).The wholphin proved fertile when she gave birth at a very young age. Unfortunately, the calf died after a few days. However, in
1991 , Kekaimalu gave birth once again, to daughter Pohaikealoha. For 2 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 1-year-old bottlenose dolphin.Both remain in captivity, and are not part of the normal tour at Sea Life Park. The backstage tour must be taken to see the wholphins. Kekaimalu is featured in the main dolphin show at Sea Life Park.
Wholphins, though not often sighted by fisherman, are known in popular seafaring lore as "the great grey beast."
External links
* [http://hotspotshawaii.com/Wolphin.html Waimanalo Hapa Girl Makes 10!] , by Keene Rees
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7508288/ Whale-dolphin hybrid has baby wholphin] at MSNBC
* [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/15/tech/main688419.shtml A 'Wholphin' Is Born] at CBS News
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