False Killer Whale

False killer whales are highly social and often seen in groups of more than ten (Jefferson et al. 2008, as cited by de Vos et al. 2012). The 2003 offshore survey recorded only two small groups, about five animals in all, and one of them was at a depth of 1,200 m off the west coast. That is not unusual, since the species spends time in deep offshore water.

Five species of 'blackfish' have been recorded from Sri Lankan waters, and the false killer whale was one of only two the survey encountered (de Vos et al. 2012).