Monday, May 19, 2008
Communication
Killer whales use a system to "see" underwater. they use this system to find predetors and prey. this system works like a GPS. The communication sounds like certen calls. The calls of each pod has has differences in the calls, so they don't get stuk with another pod.
Offshore
Orcas were given there name for what the name suggests. They they stay out cruising inthe deeper parts of the sea feeding mostly on fish. They have been seen traveling in groups of up to 60 animals in 1 pod! Currently there is not a lot known about these ancreatures but they can be distinguished gynetically from the residents and transients
Transient
Transient:
Transient killer whales generally travel in much smaller groups than the residents, usually up to 7 or 8 animals. These are referred to as groups rather than pods because they do not have as strong a social bond as the residents, and do not necessarily remain as a family unit, probably due to their diet. They are generally seen cruising along the shorelines hunting for their favorite food, the harbor seal. It is probably the transients that gained orca the nick name "killer whales" because of their ruthless eating habits. To avoid injury from the sharp teeth of the seals and sea lions which is their primary diet, they will usually disable their prey before killing and eating it. This may involve throwing it in the air, slapping it with their tails, ramming it, or breaching and landing on it. The whole process can be quite lengthy at times, seeming to be like torture for the prey, but is primarily for safety and training for the young killer whales. Transient killer whales will eat anything that swims in its waters, except, apparently, man. The range for transient killer whales is unknown, but may be as much as 1500 miles or more.
Transient killer whales generally travel in much smaller groups than the residents, usually up to 7 or 8 animals. These are referred to as groups rather than pods because they do not have as strong a social bond as the residents, and do not necessarily remain as a family unit, probably due to their diet. They are generally seen cruising along the shorelines hunting for their favorite food, the harbor seal. It is probably the transients that gained orca the nick name "killer whales" because of their ruthless eating habits. To avoid injury from the sharp teeth of the seals and sea lions which is their primary diet, they will usually disable their prey before killing and eating it. This may involve throwing it in the air, slapping it with their tails, ramming it, or breaching and landing on it. The whole process can be quite lengthy at times, seeming to be like torture for the prey, but is primarily for safety and training for the young killer whales. Transient killer whales will eat anything that swims in its waters, except, apparently, man. The range for transient killer whales is unknown, but may be as much as 1500 miles or more.
Resident
Resident:
Resident killer whales are the most commonly sighted. Although named resident it is not because they remain in one area, it is because they frequent certain areas consistently. They are nomadic just as the transient and offshore killer whales, but have a much smaller range. The resident killer whales favorite food is salmon, so they frequent areas where the salmon are abundant. They are always on the move, sometimes traveling as much as 100 miles in a day, but may be seen in a general area for a month or more and then not seen again for weeks. As the salmon go, so goes the resident killer whales. Range for resident killer whale pods may be as much as 800 miles or as little as 200 miles. Resident killer whales live in very complex and cohesive family groups known as pods. Resident pods are generally larger than the transient and offshore pods, having up to 50 or more members. Several pods occasionally get together and form what are called superpods, sometimes numbering in excess of 150 animals. The social bonds Orca breach.within these pods are stronger than those in many human societies. Each resident pod has its own distinct dialect of the killer whale language. Resident killer whales seem to be the most acrobatic of the killer whales. We usually see them spread out and cruising in small groups, breaching, spyhopping and tail slapping as they feed randomly on the salmon.
Resident killer whales are the most commonly sighted. Although named resident it is not because they remain in one area, it is because they frequent certain areas consistently. They are nomadic just as the transient and offshore killer whales, but have a much smaller range. The resident killer whales favorite food is salmon, so they frequent areas where the salmon are abundant. They are always on the move, sometimes traveling as much as 100 miles in a day, but may be seen in a general area for a month or more and then not seen again for weeks. As the salmon go, so goes the resident killer whales. Range for resident killer whale pods may be as much as 800 miles or as little as 200 miles. Resident killer whales live in very complex and cohesive family groups known as pods. Resident pods are generally larger than the transient and offshore pods, having up to 50 or more members. Several pods occasionally get together and form what are called superpods, sometimes numbering in excess of 150 animals. The social bonds Orca breach.within these pods are stronger than those in many human societies. Each resident pod has its own distinct dialect of the killer whale language. Resident killer whales seem to be the most acrobatic of the killer whales. We usually see them spread out and cruising in small groups, breaching, spyhopping and tail slapping as they feed randomly on the salmon.
Different types of Killer Whale
The Killer Whales:
There are three distinct types of killer whales that we are aware of today. Each of these types look similar, but have specific genetic differences and specific food preferences and habits. These three types are identified as Resident, Transient and Offshore.
There are three distinct types of killer whales that we are aware of today. Each of these types look similar, but have specific genetic differences and specific food preferences and habits. These three types are identified as Resident, Transient and Offshore.
info on whale watching
Whale Watching:
All marine mammals including Killer Whales, and the endangered Humpback Whales are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Guidelines for observation have been established, in accordance with the MMPA, by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Approach distances and vessel activities in the vicinity of marine mammals are addressed in these guidelines. The captain of your whale watching vessel should be conscientious about adhering to these guidelines, as well as providing passengers a quality viewing experience
All marine mammals including Killer Whales, and the endangered Humpback Whales are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Guidelines for observation have been established, in accordance with the MMPA, by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Approach distances and vessel activities in the vicinity of marine mammals are addressed in these guidelines. The captain of your whale watching vessel should be conscientious about adhering to these guidelines, as well as providing passengers a quality viewing experience
info v2
Killer whales seem to know no fear, and are ruthless killers of their prey. The Greek translation of Orca means "killer from hell". Their Latin scientific name, Orcinus Orca, means a kind of whale, of or belonging to the realms of the dead. Man assumed that he to would be a target of the killer whale if he were in the water. This fear led to the persecution of killer whales. "In the 1950's the US Air Force practiced strafing runs on pods of killer whales". * Today some commercial fishermen are still shooting killer whales because the whales are stealing their fish. It has not been until recent years, when killer whales were captured and put on display in aquariums that they earned the respect they deserve. They proved themselves to be intelligent, acrobatic and friendly, and people around the world have fallen in love with them
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
info
The swift and powerful Orca is without a doubt the "King of the seas". A study in black and white, they have been feared and revered by native peoples for thousands of years. Orca will eat any animal that swims in its waters, from herring and salmon to seals and sea lions, moose, whales and even Great White Sharks. It is surprising, but there have been no documented attacks on humans, resulting in death, in the wild, although trainers have been killed by orca in captivity. There is one account of a surfer being grabbed by a killer whale and released.
Scientifc Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Orcinus
Species: O. orca
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Orcinus
Species: O. orca
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
