Wholphin has a whale of a calf

HONOLULU — A mix of a false killer whale and bottlenose dolphin, the only such cross in captivity, has given birth to a female calf, according to officials at Sea Life Park Hawaii.

The young wholphin is one-fourth false killer whale — which actually is a member of the dolphin family — and three-fourths Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Her skin is an even blend of a dolphin's light gray and the black coloring of a false killer whale.

Though both are members of the dolphin family, false killer whales and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are different species.

False killer whales grow to 20 feet and weigh up to 2 tons. Atlantic bottlenose dolphins reach a maximum size of 12 feet and can weigh up to 700 pounds.

However, said Louis Herman, a leading expert in the study of marine mammals, "They are not that far apart in terms of taxonomy."

The calf is jumbo-sized, already the size of a 1-year-old bottlenose.

"Mother and calf are doing very well," said Dr. Renato Lenzi, general manager of Sea Life Park by Dolphin Discovery.

The calf was born Dec. 23 to Kekaimalu, Park officials said Thursday. They delayed announcement of the birth because of recent changes in ownership and operations at the park.

There have been reports of wholphins in the wild, Herman said.