Acoustic recording of false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) from Mexico (L)

A study of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) near Roca Partida Island, Mexico, revealed that their acoustic signals are more varied than previously thought. Researchers recorded 321 whistles from a group of at least ten individuals and found that ascending contour types, particularly upsweeps, accounted for nearly 43% of the signals—contradicting the assumption that these whales predominantly produce constant whistles. The findings highlight inconsistencies in whistle type categorization across studies, suggesting a need for standardized reproducibility criteria. This research contributes to the limited knowledge base on false killer whale acoustics and calls for further ecological and acoustic investigations to clarify signal modulation patterns.

Rio, R. (2023). Acoustic recording of false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) from Mexico (L). The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 153(4), 2019. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0017726