The Alula Whale, also known as the Alula Killer, is an unconfirmed species of toothed whale. It was first reported, described and illustrated by Captain W. F. J. Mörzer Bruyns and included in his book Field Guide of Whales and Dolphins, along with many other dubious species of cetaceans. Bruyns spotted a small school of the whales in the Gulf of Aden, naming the species after the neighbouring town of Alula, whose coast lies in this gulf.
The species was given the scientific name Orcinus mörzer-bruynsus by Donald S. Heintzelman in his 1981 book A World Guide to Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises.[1]
Description[]
The Alula whale resembles a sepia brown orca whale with a well-rounded forehead. The dorsal fin, about 2 feet (0.6 meters) high, is prominent and often protrudes well above the surface of the water. It is roughly 24 feet long, and weighs around 2 tons (4,000 lbs). It is not uncommon for it to be recorded with white star-shaped scars on its body, perhaps from fights with giant cephalopods.
While the whale's dorsal fin has been described as "tall", this description is relative. At 2 feet tall, this fin would only be about as tall as that of a female Killer Whale. The species does not seem to have the iconic 5-6 foot dorsal fin of male Killer Whales - Capt. Bruyns did not describe any obvious sexually dimorphic traits between individuals.
Possible explanations[]
Various explanations for the Alula Whale sightings have been put forward, including the possibility that their brown color is caused by an accumulation of diatoms on their skin [example]. This is common among Antarctic Killer Whales because whales in cold Antarctic waters shed their skin more slowly, allowing for this buildup; however, these conditions would not be faced by whales living in the Arabian Sea.
Other explanations have posited that the star-like markings may not actually be markings, but rather scars left by attacks from squid or other whales. Additional explanations have suggested that the whales are a unique color variant of Killer Whale, or misidentified False Killer Whales or Pilot Whales.
Gallery[]
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References[]
- ↑ Donald S. Heintzelman. "A world guide to whales, dolphins, and porpoises" p 24. 1981.