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Orca show at SeaWorld San Diego. Orcas, or killer whales, are large predatory cetaceans that were first captured live and displayed in exhibitions in the 1960s. They soon became popular attractions at public aquariums and aquatic theme parks due to their intelligence, trainability, striking appearance, playfulness in captivity and sheer size. [1]
The genus Orcinus was published by Leopold Fitzinger in 1860, [4] its type species is the orca named by Linnaeus in 1758 as Delphinus orca.Taxonomic arrangements of delphinids published by workers before and after Fitzinger, such as John Edward Gray as Orca in 1846 and Orca (Gladiator) in 1870, are recognized as synonyms of Orcinus.
The orca (Orcinus orca), or killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. It is the only extant species in the genus Orcinus and is recognizable by its black-and-white patterned body. A cosmopolitan species, it is found in diverse marine environments, from Arctic to Antarctic regions to tropical seas.
Orcas are intelligent apex predators with an impressively varied diet and unique behaviours. Skip to main content. 24/7 Help. For premium support please call: 800-290-4726 more ways to reach ...
Orcas are found worldwide, and while there is just one species there are multiple ecotypes, or groups that share similarities in their appearance and behaviors, including hunting strategies and ...
The orca is known to prey on numerous other toothed whale species. One example is the false killer whale. [69] To subdue and kill whales, orcas continually ram them with their heads; this can sometimes kill bowhead whales, or severely injure them. Other times, they corral their prey before striking.
Orcinus citoniensis is an extinct species of orca identified in the Late Pliocene of Italy and the Early Pleistocene of England. It was smaller than the modern killer whale (O. orca), 4 m (13 ft) versus 7 to 10 m (23 to 33 ft), and had around 8 more teeth in its jaw.
These orcas also prey on Patagonian toothfish. 65 individuals have been documented in this area. [51] Off South Africa, a distinctive "flat-tooth" morphotype exists and preys on sharks. [ 52 ] [ 53 ] A pair of male orcas, Port and Starboard , have become well known for hunting great whites and other sharks off the South African coast.