zoom_in Click to enlarge

Kekaimalu

▲ ▼

description Kekaimalu Overview

Kekaimalu was a female wholphin born on May 15, 1985, at Sea Life Park in Hawaii, representing a rare hybrid between a female bottlenose dolphin and a male false killer whale. She gained historical biological significance due to her fertility, successfully giving birth to multiple calves over her lifespan, which provided scientists with unique insights into cetacean hybridization. She lived her entire life in captivity under the care of marine biologists at the facility.

help Kekaimalu FAQ

What is a wholphin, and how does Kekaimalu fit this definition?

Kekaimalu was a female wholphin, which is an extremely rare hybrid of a bottlenose dolphin and a false killer whale. She was born at Sea Life Park Hawaii and became the most famous example of this cross-species phenomenon.

When and where was Kekaimalu the wholphin born?

Kekaimalu was born on May 15, 1985, at Sea Life Park in Hawaii. Her birth surprised marine biologists because her parents were two completely different species within the oceanic dolphin family.

Was Kekaimalu able to have offspring of her own?

Yes, Kekaimalu was notable for being a fertile hybrid, successfully giving birth to several calves over her lifetime. She had a daughter named Kawili Kai, who was three-quarters bottlenose dolphin and one-quarter false killer whale.

What did Kekaimalu look like compared to her parents?

Kekaimalu displayed a physical blend of both parent species, featuring a size and head shape intermediate between a bottlenose dolphin and a false killer whale. Her teeth, numbering around 66, were also a perfect mix between the 88 of a dolphin and the 44 of a false killer whale.

swap_horiz

Looking for Kekaimalu alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward