Interactions Between Killer Whales (<i>Orcinus orca</i>) and Neonate Long-Finned Pilot Whales (<i>Globicephala melas</i>) off South Iceland.

ABSTRACT: Cetacean interactions can be diverse and complex, spanning agonistic to affiliative behaviors. While killer whales are known for complex hunting strategies and a wide range of prey worldwide, they also engage in various non-predatory interspecific interactions. This study describes two encounters off south Iceland, on the 23rd of June 2022 and the 20th of June 2023, where neonate pilot whales were observed with killer whale groups. No other pilot whales were sighted in the area for the duration of these encounters. The killer whale groups, of mixed age and sex classes, engaged in slow travel, foraging and social behaviors throughout the encounters. The pilot whale calves were seen surfacing in front of killer whales or in echelon position, and at times being lifted out of the water. Photo-

SUBMITTER: Baumgartner CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12015194 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature