First account of apparent alloparental care of a long-finned pilot whale calf (<i>Globicephala melas</i>) by a female killer whale (<i>Orcinus orca</i>)

Interactions between killer whales ( Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758)) and long-finned pilot Globicephala melas (Traill, 1809)) have been documented on numerous occasions, usually involving predation events pursuits. Here, the first account of a whale calf seen in echelon position with one group three is described, along further interaction same other whales. Behavioral, locational, photographic data were recorded analyzed for 2011 2022 2019 off West Iceland. The used to obtain background information involved apparent alloparental behavior. described event also presents epimeletic behavior toward non-conspecific. movements conjunction during subsequent do not fit any previously observed behavioral patterns interactions these species may represent an active effort another calf. Long-finned might be more complex than thought influenced by multiple drivers.