KILLER WHALE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4127, 27 April 1949, Page 5

KILLER WHALE

SKULL AT MIRANDA

ONE OF TOOTHED SPECIES

IDENTIFIED BY THE MUSEUM

The large skull which was found recently at Miranda by Mr W. Gil-

i mour of Tirohia has been identi'ed by Mr E. G. Turbott, ornith<ist and entomologist, at the ; l an d Institute and Museum, as tfisK *°f a k*H er whale. Photographs \ the skull were sent by the te to the museum for irfentificatiA 1 " “As mentis in y° ur article this is one of the thed whales ’ but is larger than th* Mk ckfish ’ reaching a length of 23 feet- . The two large opening* passing tlfi'o. lgb the skull are the cavities of tlk " nOS^^s Or blowholes,’’ states Mr Turk

“ This whale is of fei'OciotXU disposition and kills seals, penguins - JK nd even large whales of other species. L t pos ' sesses a full armament of teetftv as indicated by the large sockets alc% ” the upper jaw.

“ Killer whales are seen from timV to time in the Hauraki Gulf. They are numerous in Antarctic .waters where they frequently hunt in small packs, like wolves, and have attacked members of exploring parties on the ice edge.

“ The photographs of the whales stranded at Miranda in March, 1926, are equally interesting, two of these being beaked whales, probably of the species known as the bottle-nose. In this whale there are only two small teeth almost hidden in the gums near the tip of the lower jaw. The bottlenose generally moves about in small groups and feeds upon cuttle-fish and other small marine animals,” writes Mr Turbott. “ The third whale stranded at this time, shown in the central photograph at the bottom of the page in your issue of March 18, is possibly a killer, although it is difficult to distinguish the shape of the fins; the flipper, which in the killer would be broad and paddle-like, is unfortunately shown edgewise in the photograph. I should be most grateful for further information and photographs from Mr W. P. Wylde and Mr H. A. Hamilton which might clear up this point.

41 Additional observations or photographs of the bettle-nose whales would also be of value, especially as regards the shape of the fins and presence of paler markings on the body,” concludes Mr Turbott.