| Melon-headed whale | |
|---|---|
| |
| |
| Size compared to an average human | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | Delphinidae |
| Genus: | Peponocephala Nishiwaki & Norris, 1966 |
| Species: | P. electra
|
| Binomial name | |
| Peponocephala electra (Gray, 1846)
| |
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| Range of the melon-headed whale | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Peponocephalus electrus | |
The melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra), also known less commonly as the electra dolphin, little killer whale, or many-toothed blackfish, is a toothed whale of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). The common name is derived from the head shape. Melon-headed whales are widely distributed throughout deep tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, but they are rarely encountered at sea. They are found near shore mostly around oceanic islands, such as Hawaii, French Polynesia, and the Philippines.
- ^ Kiszka, J.; Brownell Jr.; R.L. (2019). "Peponocephala electra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T16564A50369125. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T16564A50369125.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.