Wholphin

This article is about the marine animal. For the magazine of short films, see Wholphin (DVD).

A wholphin or wolphin is a rare hybrid, born from a mating of bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus (mother), and a false killer whale Pseudorca crassidens (actually another dolphin species, taxonomically speaking). Although they have been reported to exist in the wild, there are currently only two in captivity, both at the Sea Life Park in Hawaii.

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The first captive wholphin was born on May 15, 1985 where a female bottlenose dolphin and a male false killer whale 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.