Wholphin

Kawili Kai, born to a female wholphin by a male dolphin, at 9 months of age in September 2005

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]

They are extremely intermediate between both parents. Since a bottlenose may have about 88 teeth and a false killer whale has about 44, a wholphin will have 66.[4] They are smaller than a false killer whale but are larger than a normal bottlenose.

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.[5] Both Kekaimalu and Kawili Kai remain in captivity and are now part of the normal tour at Sea Life Park.

Family tree

Family tree:

 
 
 
 
 
Tanui Hahai (False Killer Whale) ♂
 
 
 
 
 
Punahele (Bottlenose Dolphin) ♀
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bottlenose Dolphin ♂
 
 
 
 
 
Kekaimalu (Wholphin) ♀
 
 
 
 
Bottlenose Dolphin ♂
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnamed calf
 
 
 
 
 
Pohaikealoha ♀
 
 
Kawili Kai ♀
 
 

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sean B. Carroll (September 13, 2010). "Remarkable creatures". New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2010. The first captive wholphin, Kekaimalu, was born on May 15, 1985, to a female bottlenose dolphin named Punahele, who shared a pool with a male false killer whale named Tanui Hahai. The wholphin's size, color and shape are intermediate between the parent species. She has 66 teeth – intermediate between a bottlenose (88 teeth) and false killer whale (44 teeth)
  2. 1 2 "Whale-dolphin hybrid has baby wholphin". MSNBC. April 15, 2005. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  3. 1 2 West, Karen (May 18, 1986). "A Whale? A Dolphin? Yes, It's A Wholphin". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 9, 2013. “Born at Sea Life Park on May 15, 1985, Keikaimalu was dubbed a wholphin by Sea Life Park’s training staff.”
  4. ↑ "11 Amazing Hybrid Animals". Mother Nature Network.
  5. ↑ "Ditching SUVs and Breeding Beefalos". E Magazine. Earth Action Network. 17 (1): 64. January–February 2006. Retrieved May 4, 2013. (subscription required)
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