How is the consumption of other marine mammals characterized in the false killer whale diet?
Answer
As an opportunistic take when the chance arises or primary food sources are scarce.
The occasional predation on other marine mammals, such as dolphins and porpoises, does not represent the typical daily sustenance for the false killer whale. Instead, this behavior is generally characterized as opportunistic. This means that hunting another cetacean is likely pursued when the opportunity presents itself—perhaps through witnessing a vulnerable individual—or perhaps during periods when their primary food sources, fish and squid, might be less accessible or sufficient to meet their needs. This type of complex predation requires social cooperation to successfully overpower agile prey.
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