Melon-Headed Whale Skull Replica

$390.00

The Melon-headed Whale is a toothed whale of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). The common name is derived from the head shape. Melon-headed whales are widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.

Description

Melon-Headed Whale Skull Replica measures 18.1 inches. Cast of California Academy Sciences specimen. Melon-Headed Whale Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. Made in USA. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw).  Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home décor skull, or office décor skull.

The Melon-Headed whale or Peponocephala electra, also known as the Electra dolphin, Little killer whale is a small-to medium-sized toothed whale of the oceanic dolphin family Delphinidae.

The common name is derived from the head shape. Melon-headed Whales are widely distributed throughout deep tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, however they are rarely encountered at sea. They are found near shore only around oceanic islands, such as Hawaii, French Polynesia and the Philippines.

Melon-headed Whales or Peponocephala electra have a robust, dolphin-like body, a tapering, conical head with no discernible beak and a relatively tall, sickle-shaped dorsal fin located near the middle of the back.

Body coloration is charcoal-gray to dark-gray body. A dark face mask extends from around the eye to the front of the melon and larger animals have whitish lips.

Melon-headed Whales or Peponocephala electra have a dark colored dorsal cape that starts narrowly at the front of the head and dips down at a steep angle below the dorsal fin.

Melon-headed Whales or Peponocephala electra feed primarily on pelagic and mesopelagic squid and small fish. Melon-headed Whales feed at night on shrimp, small fish, and squid when their prey is within the upper 1,300 ft. of the water column.

Melon-headed Whales or Peponocephala electra are fast swimmers. They travel in large, tightly packed groups and can create a lot of spray when surfacing, often porpoising when traveling at speed, and are known to spy hop and also may jump clear out of the water.

Melon-headed Whales are a highly social species and usually travel in large groups of 100 to 500 individuals, with occasional sightings of herds as large as 1000 to 2000.

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Additional information

Weight 20 lbs
Dimensions 18.1 in
Melon-Headed Whale Facts

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Peponocephala
Species: P. electra
Binomial name: Peponocephala electra
Conservation status: Least concern