The killer whale or orca (orcinus orca) is a toothed whale belonging to the marine dolphin (sun) family of which it is the largest member. Killer whales have a varied diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of hunting. Some rely exclusively on fish, while others prey on marine mammals such as seals, watersheds, and other species of dolphins. They are known to attack small baleen whales and even adult whales.
Killer whales are apex predators, as no animal preys on them. A cosmopolitan species, they can be found in a wide variety of ocean environments in each of the world’s oceans, from the Arctic and Antarctic regions to the tropical seas, leaving only the Baltic and Black Seas, and some areas of the Arctic Ocean. Killer whales are quite intelligent and clever creatures, and also use their intelligence in hunting.
Contrary to its name, it is not slaughtered in nature, and humans are not included in its diet. It does not usually attack humans in open water, but in captive condition they have been found to hurt their caretakers.
What are the types of killer whales?
Currently killer whales are classified into four categories: –
Type A : They are the largest, black and white and have a white spot near their eye. It usually hunts mink whales.
Type B: They are smaller than Type A, and are light black and beige white. The spot near their eye is relatively large. It mostly eats seal fish.
Type C: They are the smallest, light black and beige white. They have an oblique stripe near their eye. It lives in large groups. It has so far been seen as only Antarctic cod accounts.
Type D: It is black and white in color, and lives mainly in the open sea. There is only a small horizon line near its eye. It was identified only in relatively recent times (1955). They are quite different and rare from others. Their head is balloon-shaped, and their dorsal fin is relatively thin.
Both types B and C live in icy water. Killer whales are one of the 35 species of the sea swans family that arrived about 11 million years ago. In fact, it is more like a dolphin than a whale.
How does a killer whale live?
Orca gives birth to a child in a span of three to ten years, and takes great care of her. Most children become separated from their mother after they grow up, but some children always remain in the same herd with their mother. Their gestation time is about 14 months. Orca spend their lives playing, maintaining a family, and hunting.
What does killer whale look like?
Adult male orca are about 8 to 8 meters and are heavier than 6 tons, while females are 5 to 7 meters tall and 3 to 5 tons. Their body temperature is 36 to 38 degree centigrade. The dorsal fin of males is about 18 meters and straight, which is double the rounded back of the females. In addition, there are other differences between the two sexes, including the long lower jaw of males. Their jaws are extremely strong and they can swim at speeds greater than 30 knots.
Keeper whales’ relationship with humans
In Western civilization, orcas were previously considered a merciless murderer, and killing them was very common. Especially when the first information about these whales was received. For this reason, they came to be called killer whales. However, in the modern era, more information was found about them and then they were seen as a useless animal, and after spreading awareness slowly, they started trying to save them.
Their thinking changed when a killer whale was caught and studied in 1964. When he was attacked by the harpoon, the two companions of the whale came to his aid and tried to put him on the water to breathe. After an unsuccessful attempt to kill him, an aquarium director, Murray A. Niemann, decides to save him and pulls him to Vancouver. For almost two months, it was not even known what his normal diet was.
When someone gave him fish to eat after 55 days, the whale ate it. His watchers were surprised that he was a peace-loving and intelligent creature who did not try to hurt humans. About a month later, the whale also died in captivity. The “killer whale” title given to them has been erasing over time, and the name “orca” has been in vogue.
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