What role does squid consumption play in the diet of the false killer whale?
Answer
Squid represents a major dietary component and an important consumer of cephalopods.
Squid consumption is a critically important aspect of the false killer whale's nutrition, establishing them as significant predators of cephalopods within the marine environment. These energy-rich squid species are often found in dense aggregations within deeper, offshore waters, making them a reliable food source when accessible. Because squid frequently reside in deep-scattering layers or are active at night, the successful pursuit of these prey items necessitates specialized behaviors, likely involving deep dives by the false killer whales to intercept these fast-moving, slick targets.
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