![]() ![]() Since they became marine life park attractions, these elegantly large animals were responsible for the death of a handful of trainers. When held in captivity, orcas develop unusual behaviors. Over 90 percent of all individuals in captivity have not lived past the age of 25. Their biggest threats are oil spills, as they are widely distributed and frequently inhabit both open and coastal waters like the Pacific Northwest region and the United States international waters in general. The majority live in the Antarctic, but they can also be found in the tropical and northeast Pacific and the Norwegian Sea. Their average swimming speed is three to four miles per hour (five-to-6.4 kilometers per hour), but they can accelerate up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour).Īn orca can kill a shark by flipping it upside down and putting the opponent in a paralyzed state called "tonic immobility." The dorsal fin of a male killer whale can reach six feet (1.8 meters).Īccording to oceanographers, there are around 50,000 killer whales in the oceans of the world. One of the oldest known orcas is "Granny." She may have lived up to 105 years, even though some researchers think that her age at the time of death was between 65 and 85. The gestation period of an orca is 17 months. Their fertility peak comes around 20, and they live between 50 and 80 years. On average, they reach sexual maturity around 21 and live between 29 and 60 years.įemale orcas will reach 23 feet (seven meters) and weigh up to eight tons. The larger the animal, the higher the mist rises.Ī male killer whale can reach 32 feet (9.7 meters) in length and weigh up to nine tons. Marine mammals come to the surface to breathe and exhale a spout of gas and water into the air, just like a human snorkeler. In the Southern Hemisphere, there are four different types of killer whales: Type A, Type B, Type C, and Type D. There are five ecotypes of killer whales in the Northern Hemisphere: resident orcas, Bigg's orcas, offshore orcas, North Atlantic Type 1, and North Atlantic Type 13. Young killer whales learn to hunt prey by watching and learning the basic techniques through their mothers. Orcas are highly social marine mammals and live in pods. They're apex predators - they're on top of the food chain. These powerful and highly intelligent creatures of the seas feed on fish, octopuses, stingrays, seabirds, turtles, marine mammals like dolphins and seals, and even sharks. Orcas hunt in family groups of up to 40 individuals. They are armed with a set of between 40 and 55 brutal teeth that will capture, rip and tear victims in a matter of seconds. Killer whales can be dangerous to their prey. Thanks to their thick layer of fat under their ski, orcas can be found in all oceans of the world, in a broad range of marine ecosystems, in cold, cool, and warm waters. However, their coloration may differ from pod to pod so that they can hide and surprise their prey in more or less transparent waters. When they close their left eye, their left side of the brain is shut down, and vice versa. They communicate through sounds, and they've developed their own unique "dialects" or system of calls.Īlthough they never truly enter a deep sleep-like state, orcas rest half of their brains alternately. Scientists believe that killer whales don't smell. They feature a big black back, with medium-sized white patches above and behind the eyes, and then a big white chest that runs from head to tail. These toothed whales are easy to identify. They're often spotted working as a highly coordinated team and rarely lose a battle. Scientifically named Orcinus orca, the killer whale is, in fact, a savage predator with sophisticated behaviors. So, these ocean creatures are not whales - they are whale killers. Interestingly, the name "killer whale" is a mistranslation of the Spanish designation "asesina de ballenas," which literally means "whale killer." ![]() The killer whale, also known as orca, is the largest member of the dolphin family and one of the most ferocious marine predators on the planet. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |