Largest killer whale: length from nose to tip of tail. Biology of the killer whale Dolphin and killer whale belong to the same

killer whale- one of the most colorful and mysterious marine mammals globe with an extremely controversial reputation. Some people consider him a giant dolphin with a kind soul and high level intelligence, others - a dangerous and cruel predator, capable of killing not only for food, but also as a manifestation of aggression. Both versions are partly true; the behavior and character of the killer whale are determined by many reasons - from the conditions of origin of the species to diet.

Origin of the species and description

The first mentions of this mammal were made at the beginning of the first millennium AD. Killer whales were introduced into the system of classification of wild animals of the planet by the largest encyclopedic work of antiquity called “Natural History”, authored by Pliny the Elder. The scientific name of the killer whale has been changed more than once, modern look acquired towards the end of the 18th century, and to this day its Latin version is Orcinus orca.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia and other dictionaries recognize two names of equal use in Russian - “killer whale” and “killer whale”. The second option is considered the most reasonable, derived from the word “braid”, which characterizes the shape dorsal fin animal. However, in Russian-speaking scientific circles the first option is more familiar and widespread.

Video: Orca

The killer whale received a harsh nickname - the killer whale. to a greater extent thanks to many bloody stories and legends, retold and embellished for greater interest by storytellers. Cinema did not stand aside either, creating in its films the image of a cruel and merciless predator, capable of attacking not only large sea ​​creatures, but also per person.

If you turn to scientific sources origin of this mammal, then one can indeed discover that it belongs to the order Cetacea, the suborder of toothed whales. But the determining role in the classification of the killer whale is played by its assignment to the dolphin family, which determines the lifestyle and most of the preferences and habits of these animals. That is, the killer whale is the largest carnivorous dolphin with the habits of a real predator.

Appearance and features

The killer whale, being a representative of the dolphin family, has the body contours characteristic of animals of this species, but is significantly larger than its relatives in size and has a black and white color.

In their most common form, which is familiar to most people, killer whales have black backs and sides, white spots around the throat and above the eyes, and a white longitudinal stripe along the belly. However, in certain areas Pacific Ocean There are individuals of a single color - black or white. But such options are very rare.

Interesting fact: The location and size of the white spots on the body of each individual are unique, akin to human fingerprints, this is a sure sign to identify the individual based on its individual characteristics.

Male killer whales are one and a half to two times larger than females, reaching ten meters in length and weighing about eight tons. Their impressive size and the presence of powerful jaws with two rows of razor-sharp teeth 13-15 centimeters long make these predators ideal hunters, capable of catching prey that exceeds their own weight.

In addition to practical benefits, the outstanding hunting abilities of killer whales give rise to many myths about their amazing bloodthirstiness. According to scientists and specialists involved in studying the life activity of these animals, most of these stories are mere fiction.

Another significant difference between a killer whale and a simple dolphin is the dorsal fin, which protrudes significantly above the body contour, reaching a height of one and a half to two meters in males. Cutting through water at a speed of about 55 km/h, it terrifies with its impressive size. The fins of females have a less intimidating appearance and are half as long as those of males. The tails of killer whales are equipped with powerful horizontal fins.

Where does the killer whale live?

All killer whale habitats have long been studied and listed in many reference books and encyclopedias. Thanks to active social life killer whales, it is not difficult to get an idea of ​​their distribution in the waters of the World Ocean.

Since the menu of these predators is wide and varied, they find food everywhere - from tropical waters to polar ice. True, killer whales are much less common in the tropics than in cold and temperate waters. This is explained by the same food preferences and the choice of the most comfortable environment for living.

Interesting fact: For Russian waters, the killer whale is a rather rare inhabitant. Small populations are found in the Mediterranean, White, and Bering seas, but the Azov and Black Sea free from the presence of killer whales.

For their comfortable living, these animals choose areas convenient for hunting, with a sufficient amount of potential food. Therefore in open waters they are less common than near the coast. Their most active habitat is about 800 km of coastal waters.

What does a killer whale eat?

The diet of the killer whale is perhaps the most interesting when it comes to these predators. The natural physical characteristics of killer whales acquired in the process of evolution allow them to hunt even the largest representatives of warm-blooded animals that can only be found in the World Ocean. The killer whale's hunting instinct has honed her skills to perfection. They sneak up on their victims quietly and unnoticed.

Scottish researcher Erich Hoyt systematized the available data and found that the diet of killer whales includes:

• 31 species of fish;
• 9 species of birds;
• 2 species of cephalopods;
• 1 species of turtles;
• sea ​​otter

When there is enough food, killer whales are quite friendly towards their fellows and get along well with other cetaceans in the same territory. But in the case of a meager diet, hungry killer whales without hesitation attack other pinnipeds and whales. Moreover, the size of the prey does not matter: killer whales attack large prey with the entire pod.

Every day these giants require from 50 to 150 kg of food. Each large family of killer whales has certain taste preferences. Some prefer pinnipeds, others prefer penguins and seabirds, still others hunt for shoals of herring.

Interesting fact: Killer whales may peek out of the water in search of food.

When hunting, killer whales act harmoniously and calmly, not trying to snatch a larger personal piece. By observing their actions, you can trace a certain strategy. Knowing that schools of herring tend to cluster together, killer whales drive them into a kind of ball, and then stun the fish with numerous blows of their powerful tails. After such actions, the members of the school can only absorb the immobilized fish that floats to the surface of the water.

No less interesting is the strategy of killer whales hunting seals or fur seals. If the pinnipeds are located on a small iceberg, then the killer whales unleash a series of powerful head blows onto the ice floe, simply throwing the prey into the water. Moreover, they can throw their own body onto an ice floe and, sliding along its surface with their belly, catch penguins and pinnipeds right on their own territory.

If the killer whales catch a whale or other large prey for lunch, which cannot be killed with one blow, the killer whales exhaust the victim with a continuous attack with different sides, tear out pieces of meat, bite into the skin and fins until the resistance runs out. The chances of escaping alive from a hungry flock are almost zero.

But humans, contrary to popular belief, are not attractive food for killer whales. All attacks on people were carried out either by wounded animals or in self-defense.

Features of character and lifestyle

Killer whales live in pods, each with its own hunting traditions, social structure and specific food preferences. These fundamental life characteristics are responsible for the fact that in some areas killer whales are divided into isolated forms. For example, Pacific killer whales are divided by research scientists into two groups: resident and transit killer whales. In nature, representatives of these groups do not communicate with each other and do not mate, although they can often be found in the same territories.

Resident killer whales, or, as they are also called, homebody killer whales, feed primarily on fish and only in rare cases hunt pinnipeds. This type of killer whale, with its behavior and hunting strategy, does not in any way justify the nickname of killer whales. They gather in groups of 12-15 individuals and, lining up in a column or line, track down schools of fish. In this case, orientation in space and search for prey occur due to active echolocation.

Transiting killer whales behave extremely quietly when hunting and navigate only by passively listening to the sounds of the ocean, since potential prey can easily hear their “call signs.” These killer whales are real killers. They hunt in groups of 3-5 individuals, and their diet is much more varied than that of their resident relatives:

• dolphins;
• whales;
• all species of pinnipeds;
• sea ​​otters;
• seabirds;
• penguins.

Interesting fact:“Orcas have been known to attack deer and elk swimming across small channels.”

Social structure and reproduction

Killer whales are very social and actively interact with each other. In the process of evolution of the species, a behavioral pattern of group food production has developed, which is a determining factor in the formation social organization orcas. Its basis is the maternal group, which includes an adult female and her offspring of different sexes. Such groups include about 18 individuals who are blood relatives. Sometimes a male can lead the pack, but such cases are very rare; strict matriarchy reigns in killer whale families.

Each flock has characteristic signals for communicating with each other, the so-called dialect, indicating membership in a particular group. Within the pod, killer whales are very attached to each other and friendly. If conflicts arise between them, they usually end with an angry slapping of the water with their fins or tail. Killer whales treat old individuals and young animals with care.

For successful hunting and others social interactions packs can exchange group members among themselves. It is believed that it is during such periods that individuals mate, which ensures mixing of blood.

At average duration life span is 75-100 years, puberty in females occurs at approximately 12-14 years, the reproductive period continues until they reach 40 years of age. Males live shorter lives, on average about 50 years.

Interesting fact: The lifespan of killer whales in captivity is reduced significantly compared to the lifespan of individuals in the wild. natural environment habitat.

The gestation period of female killer whales has not been established precisely, but it is approximately 16-17 months. Cubs are born at intervals of approximately 5 years, and the minimum period between their births is 2 years. Over the course of her life, a female can have up to six cubs.

Natural enemies of killer whales

Nature has endowed the killer whale with a powerful intellect, which, successfully developing in the process of evolution, placed it at the top of the food chain of marine life. Few sea inhabitants dare to fight back this powerful predator, so in its natural habitat the killer whale has practically no enemies.

The exception is humpback whales, which have been observed more than once in actions that interfere with the hunting of killer whales. They almost always come into contact with carnivores and very rarely with piscivores. There are cases when humpback whales are the first to approach killer whales during their hunt for other cetaceans or pinnipeds, but more often they protect their calves or young humpback whales from attack by hungry predators. These giants have long and very mobile fins, which, when overgrown with mollusks, can be quite dangerous weapons.

Interesting fact: Humpback whales are the only representatives of the marine animal world that can put killer whales to flight.

The nature of the confrontation between killer whales and humpback whales has not been fully studied. Some researchers believe that a certain form of altruism takes place here, often found in wildlife, when animals rush to protect not only their relatives, but also representatives of another species.

According to another version, humpback whales react to the vocalizations of killer whales. And although carnivorous individuals are rather silent, during an attack or immediately after it they quite actively talk to each other. Perhaps these “conversations” attract the attention of whales. In any of the cases, humpback whales have a simple instinct: if killer whales attack someone nearby, they need to intervene.

Killer whales maintain parity in relationships with tiger sharks, sperm whales and... people, considering them capable of causing serious injuries in the event of a conflict.

Population and species status

Killer whales are widespread in the world's oceans, but the status of most of their populations is unknown. All are protected under the International Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

The factors causing declines in killer whale populations are not well known and research will likely continue until more information about what needs to be done to reverse this trend.

Here are just some of the possible reasons:

• reduction in the quantity and quality of food obtained by animals;
• persistent hydrosphere pollutants that cause dysfunction of the immune or reproductive systems;
• oil spills;
• noise and interference from ships that disrupt natural echolocation.

killer whale endowed with intelligence perfect for survival, but due to global negative influence human influence on the ecosystem of the World Ocean, the population was on the verge of extinction. Many research groups, scientists, environmental institutions came to the defense of this unique powerful marine mammal. In their activities they try to find effective ways preserving the number of killer whales and preventing them from disappearing from the surface of the Earth.

Many have asked themselves this question, but let's figure out which family of mammals the killer whale belongs to.

According to the generally accepted classification of animals, they belong to:

Class – Mammals
Order – Cetaceans
Family – Dolphinidae
Genus – Killer whales
Species – Orca

Thus, we see that the killer whale is this is a large carnivorous dolphin, not a whale, although it also belongs to the order Cetacea.

Let's find out more about this dolphin

The killer whale differs from other dolphins in its stylish color - black and white. Typically, males are larger than females, their size is 9-10 meters in length and weighs up to 7.5 tons, and females reach a length of 7 meters and weigh up to 4 tons. Distinctive feature The male killer whale is his fin - its size can be 1.5 meters and it is almost straight, but in females it is half as low and is always curved.

Killer whales have a complex social structure, the basis of which is the family. The average group consists of 18 individuals. Each group has its own vocal dialect. While searching for food, the group may break up for a short time, but conversely, several groups of killer whales may unite for the same reason. Since killer whale grouping is based on family ties, then mating occurs at the moment of unification of several groups.

Name

Latin orca presumably comes from the Greek. ὄρυξ - with this word Pliny the Elder designated a certain predator, which could be either a killer whale or a sperm whale. English name killer whale(“killer whale”) the killer whale received because of its reputation as a dangerous predator.

The Russian name presumably comes from the word “braid”, which is reminiscent of the high dorsal fin of males. The incorrect spelling “killer whale” is common, but it is not used in specialized zoological literature (“killer whale” is also the name for one of the species of swallows).

A description of the species can be found in the tenth edition Systema Naturae Carl Linnaeus called Delphinus orca Linnaeus, 1758. The scientific name of the genus changed several times before arriving at the current stable variant, Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758). The most common obsolete name is Orca Gray, 1846. It was rejected as a junior homonym of the name Orca Wagler, 1830, proposed for another genus of dolphins (now Hyperoodon Lacépède, 1804) and replaced by the oldest suitable synonym: Orcinus Fitzinger, 1860.

The dorsal fin of a male killer whale is long and straight.

Appearance

Killer whales are the largest carnivorous dolphins; They differ from other dolphins in their contrasting black and white coloration. Killer whales are characterized by sexual dimorphism: males reach a length of 9-10 m with a mass of up to 7.5 tons, females - 7 m with a weight of up to 4 tons. In addition, the dorsal fin of males is high (up to 1.5 m) and almost straight , and in females it is approximately half as low and curved. Unlike most dolphins, the killer whale's pectoral flippers are not pointed and sickle-shaped, but wide and oval. The head is short, flattened on top, without a beak; the teeth are massive, up to 13 cm long, adapted for tearing large prey.

killer whale skull

The color of the killer whale's back and sides is black, its throat is white, and its belly has a white longitudinal stripe. Some forms of Antarctic killer whales have darker backs than their sides. On the back, behind the dorsal fin, there is a gray saddle-shaped spot. There is a white spot above each eye. In the waters of the Arctic and Antarctic, white spots may acquire a yellowish-greenish or brown tint due to a film of diatoms covering them. The shape of killer whales' spots is so individual that it allows individual individuals to be identified. In addition, in the North Pacific Ocean there are completely black (melanistic) and white (albino) individuals.

Spreading

Killer whale off the coast of Norway

The killer whale is distributed throughout almost the entire oceans of the world, occurring both near the coast and in open waters, but mainly stays within 800 km coastal strip. It does not enter only the Black, Azov, East Siberian and Laptev Seas. It is less common in the tropics than in cold and temperate waters. In Russia, usually near the Kuril ridge and the Commander Islands.

Lifestyle and nutrition

In their natural habitat, killer whales do not attack humans, but they also do not show fear of them. Among large predators The killer whale is the friendliest animal towards humans. In captivity, they are peaceful, quickly get used to people and are easy to train, with favorable conditions multiply. Typically, killer whales do not show aggression towards dolphins and seals kept with them in the same pool, as well as towards humans, although there are isolated cases of attacks on trainers. They become irritable and aggressive only during the breeding season.

Population status and conservation

There are no exact data on the total number. Local populations are estimated at 70-80 thousand individuals in Antarctica, 8000 in the tropical latitudes of the Pacific Ocean, up to 2000 off the coast of Japan, 1500 in the northeast Pacific Ocean and 1500 off the coast

Killer whales are mammals from the dolphin family of the toothed whale family. The genus of killer whales consists of only one species. The animals are black and white in color, making these cetaceans impossible to confuse with other members of the family.

The killer whale's body length reaches 10 meters, its weight is 9 tons, and the fin on its back can be 2 meters high. Killer whales, unlike other dolphins, have wide and oval pectoral flippers. The head is short, slightly flattened, without a pronounced beak on top. The mouth is equipped with large teeth up to 13 cm long. The body is oval in shape, with a massive tail at the end. The color, as already mentioned, is black and white. The belly, throat and lower jaw of the animal are white. The back and sides are painted black. Killer whales also have two white spots located above each eye. On the back, behind the dorsal fin, there may be a white saddle-shaped spot. From this spot, researchers can identify each individual individual. In the waters of the Arctic and Antarctic, the white spots of killer whales are often covered with diatoms and take on a yellow-green hue.

There are not only sexual anatomical differences between males and females. Females are much smaller than males, their weight reaches no more than 4 tons, and their length does not exceed 7 meters.

Where do killer whales live?

The killer whale lives in almost all oceans from the Arctic to the Antarctic. In the waters Atlantic Ocean Killer whales are found everywhere from Spitsbergen to Antarctica. It often swims into the Mediterranean Sea. In the waters Indian Ocean killer whales live all the way to Australia. In summer they even swim beyond the Arctic Circle Antarctic waters. In the Arctic seas they are distributed intermittently. Thus, killer whales are found in the Barents, White and Kara (western and northwestern parts) seas, and are absolutely not found in the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea. Killer whales also live on Far East in the Sea of ​​Japan, Okhotsk and Bering Sea near the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril and Commander Islands. Most often in these places, killer whales can be found near the rookeries of sea lions and seals in Avachinsky and Olyutorsky Bays.

Lifestyle and nutrition of killer whales

Killer whales live in pods. One flock can consist of from 3 to 100 individuals. Large groups most often consist of several families related to each other by distant family ties. Each family consists of a female and her cubs different ages and already grown sons. Relations in such families are very warm. Young and healthy individuals always take care of the sick and old members of their seven. The family communicates with each other using different sounds that are common to all killer whales or only to their family. If any disagreements arise between family members, they express their dissatisfaction by slapping their tail on the water. They also hunt together. different mammals and fish.

In their “private life,” killer whales are prone to polygamy. The mating period of killer whales is very difficult to record, so researchers have still not been able to determine the exact time mating season. Approximately conception occurs in summer or autumn. As a rule, the female bears one baby, which is born after 16-17 months. Usually the baby is born in the spring or early summer. But, for example, in Canada, killer whale calves are born from October to May. The length of a newborn baby is quite respectable - up to 2.7 meters, and the weight is also decent - about 180 kilograms. The mother begins to teach her cub all hunting skills at 2 months of age.

Over the entire period of her life, the female gives birth to a maximum of 6 cubs, and by about 40 years of age she stops reproducing.

Sexual maturity in young killer whales occurs in females at 12-14 years, in males - at 18-20 years. Life expectancy on average is 35 years for males and 50 years for females. Cases have been recorded of female killer whales living up to 90 years. Killer whales spend their entire lives in the group in which they were born.

Killer whale is a mammal, which belongs to the dolphin family. There is often confusion between orca and killer whale. A killer whale is a bird, but a killer whale is a whale.

Is one of the most terrible and dangerous predators and stands on par, if not above, with the white shark. Aggressive and unpredictable. It has a special beauty. It has an elongated and dense body, like. It itself is black with white spots. Can reach up to 10 meters in size. And the fin can be up to 1.5 meters high in a male.

Their head is short and slightly flat. It has two rows of massive teeth in order to easily tear apart its prey. As a rule, the white spots in all individuals are located above the eyes. It is worth considering that they are so different for everyone that it is possible to identify an individual individual by the spots. Judging by photo, killer whales truly one of the most beautiful predators of the oceans.

All killer whales are divided into three types:

• Killer whale big;
• Lesser killer whale(black);
• Pygmy killer whale.

Habitat and lifestyle

The killer whale's habitat extends throughout the world's oceans. She can be found anywhere, unless she lives in Black and Seas of Azov. Prefer cold waters Arctic Ocean, as well as the northern part of the Atlantic. IN warm waters this mammal can be found from May to autumn, but no more.

They are excellent and very fast swimmers. Surprisingly, killer whales often swim into bays and can be found close to the shores. There have been cases of encountering killer whales even in the river. The killer whale's favorite habitat is the shores, where there are many seals and.

It is difficult to calculate the number of killer whales around the world, but on average there are now about 100 thousand individuals, of which 70-80% are in Antarctic waters. Lifestyle killer whales lead the herd. As a rule, there are no more than 20 individuals in one herd. They always stick together. It is rare to see a solitary killer whale. Most likely this is a weak animal.

Family groups can be quite small. This could be a female with a male and their cubs. Large herds include 3-4 adult males and the rest are females. Males often migrate from one family to another, while females remain in the same herd all their lives. If the group becomes too large, then some of the killer whales are simply eliminated.

Character of killer whales

Killer whales, like dolphins, are very active and love all kinds of games. When a killer whale chases prey, it never jumps out of the water. So if you are in the habitat of these mammals and they are jumping in the water and tumbling, it does not mean that they see you as food, they just want to play.

By the way, they are attracted by the noise of the boat’s engine, so they can chase them for many kilometers. The speed at which this animal can swim can reach up to 55 km/h. There is always peace and quiet within the herd. These animals are surprisingly friendly. If one family member is wounded, the rest will always come to his aid and will not leave him to die.

If a sick animal is attacked (which happens extremely rarely), the herd will fight it off. But this friendliness ends with members of one herd; they are aggressive towards other animals, including killer whales. They hunt together and then can tumble and jump in the water for a long time.

killer whale fish, which has no enemies at all. The only and merciless enemy of a mammal is hunger. Especially for a big killer whale. They are not adapted to eat small fish. Their hunting tactics are so different that catching a fish is a tragedy for them. And how many fish do you need to catch for this giant?

Nutrition and reproduction

The diet directly depends on the type of killer whale. There are two of them:

• Transit;
• Sedentary.

Resident killer whales feed on fish, shellfish, and squid. Their diet also sometimes includes seal pups. They don't eat their own kind. They live in the same region, and only during the breeding season can they swim to other waters. Transiting killer whales are the absolute opposite of their sedentary counterparts.

These are killer whales – superpredators! They usually keep in a herd of up to 6 individuals. The whole crowd attacks whales, dolphins,... In the fight sharks and killer whales, the second one wins. She powerfully grabs the shark and drags it to the bottom, where she and the members of the pack tear it to pieces.

The ability to reproduce offspring in killer whales appears at the age of 8 years. These mammals reproduce no more than once every three years. Pregnancy lasts about 16 months. Babies are usually born in spring or summer. The cubs are born tail first, and the mother begins to toss them up so that they take their first breath.

All other members of the pack greet the babies. When the pod moves somewhere, the mother and her babies cover all the other killer whales. They reach maturity by the age of 14, although they grow very quickly. They live on average 40 years, although some individuals can live longer, it all depends on their way of life and nutrition.

Killer whales. Myth or reality? As practice shows, the animal does not consider humans as food. She can calmly swim next to him and not touch him. But you shouldn't be near Navy SEALs or lions. Throughout history, only a few cases of killer whale attacks on humans have been recorded.

Killer whales, like dolphins, are often kept in aquariums. Their show attracts thousands of spectators. And no wonder! Killer whales are very beautiful and graceful. They can perform a lot of tricks and make high jumps.

These predators are easy to train and quickly get used to humans. But they are also vindictive. Many communities oppose keeping killer whales in captivity. Killer whales live shorter lives in captivity than in wildlife. Their lifespan is up to 20 years.

Various metamorphoses also happen to them: males may lose their fins, females may stop hearing. In captivity, the killer whale becomes aggressive towards both humans and relatives. Even though they are fed and looked after, they get stressed from performances and noise. All killer whales are usually fed fresh fish once a day.