The melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra) is a toothed whale of the oceanic dolphin family Delphinidae, named for its rounded, tapering, beakless head. Adults reach up to 2.75 meters in length and about 225 kilograms, with newborns around 1 meter, a robust body, a dark facial mask and cape over a charcoal to dark gray body, and a tall, sickle shaped dorsal fin set near the middle of the back. It lives in deep tropical and subtropical waters roughly between 40 degrees north and 35 degrees south, with some populations associated with oceanic islands such as Hawaii and the Philippines, and feeds mainly at night on pelagic and mesopelagic squid and small fish, occasionally taking crustaceans.
Facts
Scientific Name Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Activity Pattern Activity Pattern Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Peponocephala
In Biome
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Peponocephala electra
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. GBIF Species API
3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Peponocephala electra
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITES
CITES Appendix II
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive (hunted-fished)
Once caught, melon-headed whales are used for bait or for consumption
In Biome: Open Ocean, Habitat Regions, biome: pelagic
pelagic pelagic
View the Source 4. Wikidata: Peponocephala
WikidataStatements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
- Wikidata Q724349 (P225 taxon name)
- Child Taxon Of: Delphinidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source 5. NatureServe Explorer: Peponocephala electra
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G4"
6. Wikipedia: Melon-headed whale
7. Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 mammal diet data
Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)Row: peponocephala electra
5369 Peponocephala electra Delphinidae 40 0 0 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_1 ABC M A 1 1 1 Ref_3 D2 206000 Ref_117 1
MamFuncDat.txt row Peponocephala electra, Activity columns
Peponocephala electra Delphinidae 40 0 0 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_1 ABC M A 1 1 1
View the Source 8. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Peponocephala electra
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traitsQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity 47 years (wild)
Melon-headed whale (Wikipedia)
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