The largest killer whale in the world. Orca whale

The killer whale (killer whale) is a marine cetacean of the dolphin family. The sea dolphin is the only representative in its origin.

They are boldly said to be superpredators because they can consume all marine life.

Description

“Carnivorous dolphins” is the name given to the killer whale. The killer whale received this nickname due to its diet.

These animals will have anyone they want for dinner, as they are capable of swimming at speeds of over 50 km/h. Killer whales can even feed.

There is a lot of information on the Internet where it can be seen that killer whales show on video a high level of their intelligence. A mammal raised outside its will, it is easy to train. IN open ocean the large dolphin also reveals its ability by passing on its hunting skills to its calves.

Habitat

The range of the animals is wide, so it is difficult to answer where the killer whale lives. Most often, killer whales prefer cold or temperate waters, but they are also found in the tropics.

Just like other sea creatures, it tends to places overflowing with food. The natural prey of these mammals are fish and seals, so the habitat of killer whales coincides with the habitat of fur seals, powerful schools of fish.

Appearance

Killer whale killer whale - the same large dolphin. They are distinguished only by color. The black and white color will immediately give away the killer whale. In the northern part Pacific Ocean You can see completely white or black representatives of this species. These types of mammals are considered rare.

These representatives of the fauna have huge size. Average length male - 10 m, female - 7. However, the weight of females is 2 times less. The average mass of an adult killer whale is 8 tons. The teeth of predators reach 15 cm. The size of the animal can frighten large inhabitants of the ocean.

Lifestyle

These animals mate in winter, as this is the most favorable time year. The killer whale is a mammal, so it carries a whale in the uterus for 16-17 months.

The female is capable of producing offspring for 25 years. During this time, she manages to give birth to up to 7 cubs. However, females have been recorded age 90. A predatory animal can catch a victim with its own jaws, jumping to the surface, or turn over an ice floe on which a seal is hiding. Sometimes sea dolphins hunt together with a school.

Nutrition

To understand what these animals feed on, just think about why killer whales are called killer whales. First of all, they are predators. Their diet includes:

There are several populations of these mammals and each of them prefers different foods. Solitary whales are called killer whales. Such individuals can even attack deer swimming across a water canal. Grouped animals eat fish. The daily norm for a male is 150 kg of meat.

Reproduction

Individuals can mate both vertically and horizontally, turning their bellies towards each other. The process itself looks like a game. Whales rub their fins and jump over their partner.

The killer whale is a viviparous animal. They are usually fertilized in winter and don't give birth until the following spring. Unlike human births, whales' tail comes out first and the umbilical cord breaks near the belly.

Milk is very fatty and rich in protein, so large mammals feed their young a small dose, but every 15-20 minutes. First, the male feeds the family, and then the grown-up baby whale, together with its father, learns to get food on its own.

Taxonomy

For the first time, the world of predatory mammals was revealed to the common people in 58 of the 18th century. Today there are three types:

Sedentary. Range: northeastern Pacific Ocean. Food: fish, squid. Characteristics– rounded dorsal.
Nomadic. The habitat is exclusively sea. Food: pinnipeds. Characteristic features: females have triangular dorsal fins.
Migratory. Range: western shore of Vancouver. Food is most often fish, but sometimes sharks. Characteristic features - they live in groups of 10 to 150 individuals far from the coast.

Meaning

The saltwater dolphin is found in almost all oceans and seas. In Russia, it lives near the Kuril ridges and the Commander Islands. This animal is the top of the food chain, which gives them an advantage in obtaining food, although individuals of this species are in the Red Book.

These predators feed on almost any animal they come across. Despite this, people and killer whales are quite friendly with each other. Whales are highly trainable due to their love of dancing, but there have been several recorded cases of attacks on humans.

Enemies

When a killer whale is on the hunt, all the inhabitants of the ocean hide from it. It is very difficult to remember an animal that can defeat this giant. In addition, this predator is intelligent, which gives another indisputable advantage. However, people and animals can enter into battle. The first managed to tame sea animals with music.

But there have been recorded cases of killer whales attacking people. They are trying sea giants avoid sperm whales, dolphins and tiger sharks. These representatives of the fauna can injure them.

Lifespan

Females live longer. The average lifespan of males is 35 years, females - 50. However, individuals aged 90 years have been found. Such cases are the exception to the rule. Outside their free will, animals live less.

Red Book

Despite the fact that killer whales live in almost all waters and feed on all marine life, they are listed in the Red Book. These individuals began to die out due to pollution of the hydrosphere. A huge amount of waste is harmful to the body. Echolocation is disrupted by the noise of passing ships. This is the answer to the question “Why do killer whales wash ashore?” IN lately Their population has greatly decreased. Scientists still cannot give an exact explanation.

Giant ability sea predators training is compared to the same level as dolphins.
In 2010, during training, a killer whale grabbed a 40-year-old female trainer by the hair and pulled her to the bottom.
Each white spot on a killer whale is unique, like a human fingerprint.
These individuals are social creature. Animal hunting is often planned.

Did you know that...

These are predators that do not have a brain or eyes. But they have huge jaws, the size of the worm is impressive, more than 3 meters.

killer whale- one of the brightest and most 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, derived from the word “braid,” which characterizes the shape of the animal’s dorsal fin, is considered the most reasonable. 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 of the 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 taking 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, they are less common in open waters 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 of which has its own hunting traditions, social structure and certain 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 of the social organization of killer whales. 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 there is a certain form of altruism taking place here, which is 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, and 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.

Killer whale. The killer whale received this nickname for a reason. The reputation of a dangerous predator with a wide “taste” spectrum has elevated the killer whale into the image of a tough killer. Let's try to figure out if this is actually true.

Killer whales are the largest carnivorous dolphins. They eat literally all living things: fish, cephalopods, marine mammals. When there is enough food, the killer whale lives peacefully with other cetaceans, but if the killer whales get hungry, they will without hesitation attack any minke whales and whales, other dolphins, pinnipeds, and even penguins. Moreover, the size of the prey does not matter: if it is large, then the killer whales act as a whole herd. When it is not possible to kill the prey with one blow, the killer whales exhaust it by biting off pieces of meat from its body. They sink their teeth into whales' throats, tear their tongues, and shred their fins.

If a baby whale is attacked by killer whales, then it is no longer possible to save it; it is doomed. Fast killer whales, swimming at speeds of up to 55 km/h, simply cannot be overtaken by a mother protecting her child.

By hitting an ice floe, they knock dormant seals into the water, while surrounding a herd of dolphins or walruses, killer whales methodically destroy it piece by piece. Looking at hunting killer whales, one cannot help but admire how harmoniously and calmly they act. When one dolphin cannot reach its prey, others come to its aid. Amazingly, it seems that killer whales simply love to kill: they push a seal on one side of the ice floe so that it falls into the mouth of its relatives located on the other side. Nobody pulls the blanket over themselves. Slowly they swim around the ice floe on which they found last refuge seal, raise its muzzle out of the water, as if making sure that the prey is not trying to escape, rolls big waves, trying to wash the poor thing off the ice.

Killer whales have a complex social organization: Females with young of both sexes form a family. Several families, getting together, organize a group (from the English pod). Members of the group are very strongly attached to each other, relations between its members are very warm and friendly. Healthy orcas help sick or elderly siblings. In hunting they accept active participation adults are strong, while females with cubs are aloof, but nevertheless participate in the meal. Well, if a member of the group is dissatisfied with something, then the most he will do is indignantly slap his fin on the surface of the water.

Sometimes several groups join together to hunt or mate together. Since members of the same group are related family ties, then mating occurs between members of different groups. Found throughout the world's oceans, killer whales do not enter only the Black and East Siberian Seas.

Killer whales can "peek" out of the water in search of food

Scientists distinguish two types of killer whales: homebodies And transit orcas.

Homebodies- These are killer whales that feed mainly on fish, and only in some cases glance at pinnipeds. This type of killer whale is united in groups of up to 15 individuals, walking in a chain and looking for schools of fish. When a school of fish is discovered, the killer whales knock it into a ball on the surface of the water, crush the fish with their tails, and dive one by one into the center of the school. In fairness, it is worth noting that these homebodies, or resident killer whales, do not at all live up to the nickname of killer whales. Their behavior and feeding method is reminiscent of humpback whales.

The second type of killer whale is transit orcas. These are the real killers. Their diet includes other dolphins, whales, pinnipeds, sea otters, and sea lions. There is evidence that killer whales attack deer and elk that swim across small channels. An interesting observation: traces of killer whale bites were found on half of the examined fin whales, sei whales and 65% of sperm whales. Imagine - every second sperm whale has been attacked by a killer whale in its life.

Transiting killer whales gather in smaller groups compared to homebodies. The group consists of 3 - 5 individuals. Distinctive feature Such a group is characterized by its “silence”, since the mammals that killer whales hunt can hear their voices.

When hunting for seals, killer whales use natural shelters in the bottom topography. Moreover, one male sits in ambush, while the rest of the group waits at a distance. When hunting sea lions orcas wash ashore, taking the animals by surprise. This method of hunting is the most spectacular and can be regularly observed on the shores of Patagonia.

When a whale attacks, the males engage in an attempt to drown the victim, preventing it from rising to the surface to breathe. And when attacking a sperm whale, on the contrary, they push it to the surface so that it does not hide in the depths.

Transiting killer whales' prey sizes often exceed the amount they can eat at one time. Therefore, killer whales do not eat the whole whale, but devour the tongue, throat and lips. The tongue of whales is a delicacy for killer whales; they try to open the mouth of a still living whale in order to grab onto it.

During the hunt, adults demonstrate to the young the hunting techniques that this group uses. In this way, the group’s own hunting traditions are passed on from generation to generation, by which one can determine in which family a particular killer whale was raised.

A killer whale needs up to 150 kg per day. food, and there is no shortage of it: variety of diet and lack natural enemies put the killer whale at the top of the food chain.

But killer whales, those killer whales, also have reverse side. Killer whales are the friendliest predatory animals to humans. In the wild, they show no fear of humans; all attacks by killer whales on humans were committed either by wounded animals or in self-defense. Killer whales often swim up to ships, sticking their muzzles above the water, as if inspecting it. When in captivity, they very quickly get used to people and are easy to train. When keeping a killer whale together with other dolphins or even seals, you don’t have to worry that they will attack: they do not show any aggression. Apparently, when in the open sea, killer whales attack mammals solely to satisfy their hunger. Captive killer whales are fed 160 kg of red fish daily. But there are undoubtedly fewer calories in fish than in the fat and meat of sea lions, which is why they replenish their strength faster by hunting pinnipeds.

The only period when killer whales become very irritable and aggressive is during the breeding season.

The killer whale is the only representative of the genus, since its other species have already disappeared, and their remains are on the ocean floor. The animal is popularly called the “killer whale” because it is extremely cruel to its prey. The exact population size is unknown, but hunting of killer whales is prohibited.

It is impossible to say with certainty that Are killer whales whales or dolphins?. They belong to the animal kingdom, the order Cetacea and the dolphin family. Some people call the mammals killer whales, others call them large dolphins, because their descriptions resemble these representatives depths of the sea. The animal looks like a large dolphin, but has a significantly different character.

The length of the killer whale reaches 10 meters, which makes it one of the largest representatives of the deep sea. The size of females is somewhat smaller - 8-9 m. The weight of the killer whale sometimes exceeds 8 tons. Another difference in the structure of males and females is the upper fin. In the former it reaches 150 cm in length and is located straight, in the latter it is almost half as long and somewhat curved.

The mammal's head is short and small, the skull is flattened, and the eyes are small. The jaw is very strong, has fangs 13 cm long, necessary for quickly tearing apart various prey. The classic color of the killer whale includes only 2 colors- black and white. Must be present on belly white stripe. Some individuals have areas of different shades of black on their body.

Sometimes in the wild you can find completely black or white killer whales. Their skeletal structure is almost no different from dolphins; the body is dense, not stretched and very strong. The brain has the same parts as those of dolphins. Sense organs carnivorous mammal are very well developed, which allows them to find prey at great distances.

The distribution range of killer whales is quite extensive, since they can be found almost anywhere in the World Ocean. They usually prefer cold waters, so there are especially many of them off the coast of Chile and Alaska. In these places it is found large number small and large fish that serve as a mammalian source of food.

In Black and Seas of Azov There are no killer whales. They are rarely found in tropical waters, but with a lack of food they can migrate far from their usual habitat. Usually animals try to live closer to the shore, where they can freely feed on small prey.

Lifestyle and hunting

Killer whales are predators, like sharks, they actively hunt for prey different sizes. Experts have discovered that some populations feed exclusively on herring and migrate after them to other water bodies. Individual flocks hunt pinnipeds. During long-term observation of the behavior of mammals, scientists noted that some families constantly travel in search of food, while others live in one place almost their entire lives.

The life expectancy of males in natural conditions is no more than 30 years, and females can live up to 50 years. There are some features of killer whale hunting:

The killer whale in the world's oceans is the top of the food chain and has almost no rivals. When hunting small prey, individuals act independently and do not require the help of a pack.
Kill if necessary big fish or a pack of animals acts together, surrounds the prey, while simultaneously trying to narrow the improvised ring as much as possible. Each member of the pack performs a specific role. Animals transmit special signals to each other.
The flock usually includes up to 15 individuals. If it is necessary to drive a school of fish, everyone works, but to hunt pinnipeds, up to 5 killer whales are required.
Animals often wash ashore, where elephant seals or seals can be attacked.
In cold waters where penguins float on ice floes, pods of killer whales can turn over a block to obtain prey.
Often predators attack whales. Large prey is not so easy to catch, so several males are involved in the operation. Usually they surround the whale and try to tire it out, keep up and swim close. Each male tries to tear off a piece of meat from the prey while moving. After several bites, the victim stops struggling and gives up. There are times when whales win and manage to fight back or protect their offspring.

The only representative of the depths that mammals try to avoid is the male sperm whale. It is very aggressive and can cause significant harm. But killer whales sometimes attack female sperm whales.

Features of reproduction

Each pack consists of the main female and her cubs different ages. The family has its own style of communication, different from other groups. Relations between members of the same pack are very friendly and warm; aggression occurs in exceptional cases.

There is not enough information about the reproduction of mammalian predators. It is only known that a female can reproduce up to six cubs throughout her life. Reproduction has several stages:

Puberty occurs at 12 years of age. The breeding season occurs in late summer and early autumn.
Gestation of a baby lasts from 15 to 17 months.
A newborn calf has a body length of about 270 cm; after birth, it stays near its mother for several years and feeds on mother’s milk for some time.
At the age of 40, females stop mating because, like women, they enter menopause.

After this, individuals live for about 10 years. Even if the ability to conceive is lost, the female remains in the family. No matter how sick and weak they are, the members of the pack do not leave her, help her move and eat, and protect her from other large predators.

Relationship with a person

In 1982, the capture of killer whales was prohibited by law. But this ban does not apply to their fishing for scientific research. IN natural conditions the mammal does not show fear of people. If a person does not try to harm, it does not attack, so no such cases have been recorded.

The relationship between killer whales and humans when keeping animals in captivity is somewhat different. They often become aggressive, can attack the trainer. There was a recorded case where an attack led to fatal outcome. Keeping orcas in captivity is now prohibited because it reduces their life expectancy by almost half.

Several years ago, killer whales were used for display in various shows, but their training is extremely difficult and the danger is high. Animals become irritable, refuse food, lose weight, and can attack not only humans, but also their fellow animals.

Attention, TODAY only!

Killer whale is a mammal, which belongs to the dolphin family. There is often confusion between orca and orca. 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. It can be found anywhere, except that it does not live in the Black and Azov Seas. 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 found 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 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. The show with them 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.