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Killer Whale.

Orc

Orcas leaping out of water

Classification

Reign

Animalia

Branch

Chordata

Sub-ember.

Vertebrata

Class

Mammalia

Subclass

Theria

Infra-class

Eutheria

Order

Cetacea

Suborder

Odontoceti

Family

Delphinidae

Subfamily

Orcininae

Genre

Orcinus
Fitzinger , 1860

Binomial name

Orcinus orca
( Linnaeus , 1758 )

Geographical Distribution

Conservation Status IUCN :

LC: Least Concern

Status CITES :

Annex II ,
Revised 28/06/1979

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The orca or killer whale is a marine mammal of the suborder of cetaceans with teeth, the toothed whales. He also lends the nickname "killer whale" by anglicism its English name killer whale.

This whale is easily recognizable by its black and white livery and the size of its dorsal fin that can reach 2 m in height in males.

Etymology

The term "killer whale and the name of its genus Orcinus is derived from the Latin orca Ancient .

The dictionary of the French Academy, in its ninth edition, says qu'orque is feminine ("a killer"), while qu'paulard is masculine ("a killer").

Behavior

The orca is a formidable hunter. Its diet consists mainly of fish , to penguins and other mammals marine ( sea lions , sea lions , seals , porpoises , whales ). The proportions of prey in the diet and hunting techniques employed vary according to population. Orcas hunt sea mammals such as seals and sea lions prowling close to the beaches, and using the technique of beaching on the shore.

Although deemed opportunistic and aggressive, recent studies have shown that the killer may also be particularly helpful. So when a killer meets a stray calf, it happens very often travel hundreds of miles to reunite with his mother. It is for this reason that the orca is sometimes called "the giver of the sea" .

Orcas belong to the same family as dolphins and, like them, their training is relatively easy. Their large size, their beauty and their spectacular leaps make them popular attractions for visitors to the dolphin.

There are three types of orcas well defined:

Orcas nomads are constantly moving and quiet. Sometimes they are solitary or in small groups of two to seven individuals. Their sounds do agree that during the meal. These are the orcs that attack sharks and marine mammals of large size. They have a pointed fin and right.

The resident orcas return in each period given in the same area, which makes their study quite simple. They live in groups of five to fifty individuals led by the oldest females. They feed on salmon and other fish, but they have also been observed hunting of marine mammals. Residents vocalize incessantly and each group can be recognized by its unique dialect. They frequently use the echolocation of emitting small sounds like clicks and then listen to their echo allowing them to detect prey and locate themselves in troubled waters.

Offshore killer whales are mainly piscivorous and live in herds of thirty to sixty individuals. They were only discovered in 1988 off the coast of British Columbia. The type looks more offshore residents and nomads, in effect, group size appears to be quite similar and their dorsal fin and saddle gray is almost the same as theirs. They constantly vocalize, as residents. Their diet remains a mystery, it seems that they mainly eat fish.

Physical characteristics

Morphology

Orc skull

Orcas are toothed whales or toothed whales.

Orcas have a characteristic appearance with a black back, white belly and a white patch behind and above the eye. The body is powerful and topped with a large dorsal fin with a dark gray spot in the saddle behind. Males are between 7 and 9 m long (the largest specimen ever seen measured 9.74 m) and weigh between 5 and 8.5 tons (the heaviest specimen weighed 11 tons), while females are smaller, measuring between 6 and 7 meters and a mass between 3 and 4 tons (the maximum known for a female is 7.5 tons). At birth, the newborn weighs about 150 to 220 kg and measures between 2 and 2.70 m long. Unlike most dolphins, the caudal fin of an orca is large and rounded (it may be more than 2.40 m wide). Measuring up to 2 meters, the dorsal fin of the male is larger than the female (about 90 cm). It has a shape of an isosceles triangle elongated dorsal fin while the female is shorter and has the form of a fake. However this fin collapses in most captive orcas.

However, scientists have found that there were dwarf form of killer whales in Antarctica. Some specialists want them as a separate species by name or Orca Orca glacialis nanus. But others refuse to consider it as a different species of Orcinus orca.

The killer could be the cause of the extinction of Megalodon , particularly because of the food competition caused by its ability to hunt in groups.

Measures average and maximum for orcas common form

Comparison with humans.

(Measures taken by the Whale experts Eric Poncelet and John Ford)

Average length of males: 6.70 to 8.20 m (frequently displays an average of 8 - 8.50 m)
Average length of females: 5.50 to 7.30 m
Average weight of males: 5 to 7 tons
Average weight of females: 2.50 to 4 tons
Maximum length of males: 9.80 m
Maximum length of females: 8.40 m
Maximum weight of males: 11 tonnes (record held by a male northern Alaska)
Maximum weight of females: 7.5 tons

Measures average and maximum among the dwarf form of killer whale

Orc

Average length of males: 6.50 to 7 m
Average length of females: 5 to 6 m
Average weight of males: 5 to 6.50 tons
Average weight of females: 2.50 to 3 tons
Maximum length of males: 7.50 m
Maximum length of females: 6.50 m
Maximum weight of males: 8.2 tons
Maximum weight of females: 4 tons

Scientists identify individuals through the nicks, knocks and scratches on their fins and the shape of the wing.

The male orca has a characteristic shape that can not be confused with another species of marine animal. In temperate waters, females and juveniles, if observed from a distance, can be made for representatives of species such as false killer whale or dolphin Risso.

Life Cycle

Ultrasound of a killer whale (Orcinus orca

Most data on the life cycle of Orcas from campaigns long-term observation on gregarious populations living along the coast of British Columbia and the State of Washington as well as studies on killer whales in captivity. Given the meticulous studies of nature and highly structured groups of orcas in these populations, the available data can be considered fair and detailed, but the orcs transhumant groups and those living in other oceans may have slightly different characteristics.

Females become adults at about age 15. From this age, they have periods of fertility interval of 3 to 16 months. The duration of the period of gestation varies from fifteen to eighteen months. Mothers give birth to one baby about once every five years. In groups of orcas gregarious studied births take place throughout the year, the peak birth is in winter. The mortality of infants is very high, according to a study, it seems that nearly half die before reaching the age of six months. Newborns are breastfed for 2 years, but begin to feed themselves after the age of twelve months.

Females breed until the age of 40 years, and they therefore raise an average of 5 newborns. Orcas live an average female until the age of fifty years, but some can live to 80 or even 90 years in exceptional cases. Males become sexually active at age 15 years and live about 30 years on average, 50 years in exceptional cases.

The Killer in figures

" spyhopping "of a killer whale in the Ross Sea

Maximum speed: 55 km / h (scientists estimate that some can reach speeds of 65 km / h).
Maximum age: 90 years (Lummi, the matriarch, died in August 2008 at the age of 98 years).
Average age: 40 years for males and 60 for females.
Sexual maturity: 6-10 years for males, 12 to 16 years for females.
Birth weight: 180 kg
Birth Length: 2 m to 2.70 m
Length of teeth (above the gum): 4-8 cm
Diameter of the teeth to the gum base: 2.5 to 5 cm

Food

The killer whale feeds on fish (when adult, 60 to 80 kg) of seabirds , of penguins , the seals , the sea lions , to porpoises and also other cetaceans , the exact content of their diet depending on their habitat. It is one of the few whales attacking other marine mammals ( pseudorque attack too small mammals). Orcas live, travel and hunt in groups of 3-40 individuals in most oceans. The range of hunting techniques developed by the orca is large and depends on both the prey and the environment. Thus, in the southern hemisphere , the hunting of pinnipeds is it sometimes voluntary stranding on the beach. Orcas use of echolocation , a system of sonar natural, except the tracking of other cetaceans. The hunts can take place at sea or near the coast, in which case the prey is bent towards the ground until they can not escape predators. In the case of a large whale, all group members participate, some immobilizing the animal by the tail while the other hit him on all sides.

The killer whale (release) never attacks the man, despite some rumors.

Special case: Although the white shark and the orca are unaware when they intersect, it is not uncommon for orcas attacking white sharks. Thus, in the Bay of Monterey , California, a female orca about 6 meters and the name badge "AC2" has been observed repeatedly attacking white sharks. The first case, dating from October 1997 , occurred when CA2 attacked and killed a white shark from 3.50 meters to protect its young. CA2 had caught the shark in its mouth, while leaping in the air. Despite his skin extremely strong (stronger than leather), the shark had been part by the killer whale. The second observation took place when a white shark attacked CA2 bigger (he would make up 4.50).

Orcas use their speed and their echolocation system in the hunt. It is not uncommon, like dolphins, they do explode by shock organs of their prey or opponent (such as the liver, particularly targeted).

We found a particular behavior hunting the killer whale off the coast of Chile in South America. The orca there along the shores in search of sea lions group being on the beach. When a group is found, the killer whale approaching stealthily moving parallel to the bank while concealing its dorsal fin and then propels itself out of the water to catch prey. Fully emerged, it can then return to the water, swaying and writhing.

Where to watch the killer whales?

In British Columbia , in waters around the Vancouver Island (San Juan Island, Victoria , Tofino ).
In New Zealand a paradise for whales, killer whales live in large numbers.
The beaches of Morocco and the Strait of Gibraltar , the orcas are hunting the tuna they sometimes take in fishing nets. One of them was shot in 2007.
In Argentina, Peninsula Valdes, June-December.
For Escoumins (Quebec), where you can see them regularly.
The Crozet Islands

Orc cinema

One or more killer whales are the main characters in films:

God's Guarantees for Giving!

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Killer Whale.

Summary

Etymology

Behavior