Animal Unique | Killer Whale | Killer whale, commonly referred to as the orca, and less often as the Blackfish is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Besides humans, Killer whales are the most widespread mammal. Although Killer whale can be found in both open ocean and coastal waters, they primarily inhabit the continental shelf. In cold water areas, their distribution is limited by seasonal pack ice. Killer whales are found in all oceans and most seas. Due to their enormous range, number and density estimates are difficult to compare distributional effects, but they clearly prefer higher latitudes than pelagic and coastal environments.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Orcinus, Fitzinger, 1860
Species: O. orca
Killer whales have a distinctive black back, white chest and sides and a white patch above and behind the eye. Calves are born with a yellow or orange tint, which fades to white. Killer whales have a heavy and robust body and a large dorsal fin. Behind the fin, they have a dark gray "saddle patch" on the back. Antarctic Killer whales may have pale gray to nearly white backs. Adult Killer whales are very distinctive and are not usually confused with another marine animal.
The Killer whale's teeth are very strong and covered with glaze. His jaws are powerful gripping device, such as the upper teeth fall into the space between the lower teeth when the mouth is closed. The front teeth are slightly inclined forward and outward, allowing the killer to withstand vigorous shaking movements of his prey, while the middle and back teeth hold it firmly in place. Killer whales are the largest remaining members of the dolphin family. The Killer whale has large size and strength make it the fastest marine mammals.
Killer whales are often seen traveling in pods of between 3-25 individuals, usually including at least one great man. The pectoral fins are large and round, like paddles. Males have significantly larger pectoral fins than females.the male dorsal fin is more than twice the size of the female and is more of a triangular shape, a tall, elongated isosceles triangle, while hair is shorter and more curved. Males and females have different patterns of black and white skin in the genital area. Sexual dimorphism is also evident in the skull, adult males have a lower jaw longer than women, and have greater occipital.
Individual Killer whales can often be identified by the dorsal fin and saddle patch. Variations such as nicks, scratches and tears on the dorsal fin and the pattern of white or gray patch are unique in the saddle. White Killer whales rarely occur under normal killer whales, but are rare. Killer whales have good eyes above and below the water, excellent hearing and a good sense of touch. They can detect the location and characteristics of birds of prey and other objects in their environment by emitting clicking and listening to echoes.
Fish, squid, seals, sea lions, walruses, birds, turtles, otters, penguins, cetaceans (both mysticete and odontocete), polar bears have, reptiles, and even a moose all found in the stomach contents of killer whales. And, as their common name suggests, are the remains of other orcas also found in the stomachs of these "Killer whales." It is uncertain why these animals are cannibalistic. Like packs of wolves or lions, Killer whales often hunt together in pods for food. They work together to herd prey into a small space to attack. When hunting a large whale, a pod of Killer whales attacking from different angles.
Killer whales are very advanced and effective predators. Twenty-two Killer whales have been recorded as prey, to examine the stomach contents, scars on the body of the prey, or food intake. Groups even bigger attack cetaceans such as minke whales, gray whales, sperm whales or blue whales and rare. Hunting large whales usually takes several hours. Killer whales generally choose instead to attack young or weak animals. However, a group of five or more attacks a healthy adult. When hunting a young whale, a group chases her and her mother, until they wear out.
Like all whales, Killer whales are highly dependent on underwater sound for orientation, feeding, and communication. Killer whales produce three categories of sounds: clicks, whistles and pulsed calls. Clicks are believed to primarily be used for navigation and discriminating prey and other objects in the environment, but are often heard during social interactions. Killer whales are the second heaviest brains among mammals. They can be trained in captivity and are often described as intelligent, although defining and measuring "intelligence" is difficult in a species environment and behavioral strategies are very different from that of humans. Although, it is a predator, no attack on a human by an Killer whale ever recorded was in the wild. Killer whale are not considered an endangered species in general.
Animal Unique