Killer Whales Research Paper

Killer Whale, largest member of the dolphin family. Killer whales occur in more parts of the world than probably any other cetacean (see Whale). They occur in all oceans, both in the open ocean and close to shore, but are more common in the colder, more productive waters of both hemispheres than in the Tropics. Resident populations may cover an area of several hundred square kilometers. Transient populations often move through an area rapidly, swimming more than 1000 km (more than 600 mi) along a shoreline in a matter of days. Killer whales are black or deep brown overall, with striking white patches above the eye and from the lower jaw to the belly, and a fainter grayish-white saddle patch just under and behind the dorsal fin. Males are somewhat
The flippers of both sexes are large and oval, unlike those of any other toothed whale. Killer whales may be solitary or live in groups of 2 to more than 50 animals. They feed on fish, squid, marine birds, pinnipeds (see Seal), and even other cetaceans. They generally cooperate during hunting, especially when feeding on large, warm-blooded animals such as penguins, seals, and porpoises. Killer whales have even been known to prey on blue whales, the largest species on earth. In most areas, killer whales have specialized feeding habits. In the Pacific Northwest of the United States and the Pacific Provinces of Canada, for example, resident populations feed mainly on salmon and other near-shore fishes, while transient populations feed primarily on harbor seals and porpoises. In several places in the southern hemisphere they habitually beach themselves as they rush ashore to take seals or sea lions in the turbulent surf zone, moving back to deeper water afterward. Killer whales use echolocation to gather information about their surroundings—that is, they send out high-frequency clicks that bounce off prey and other objects and they interpret the returning
Consequently, researchers believe that, to keep inbreeding to a minimum, mating does not occur between members of the same pod as often as it does between members of different pods. The female gives birth to a single calf 16 or 17 months after mating. The calf is nursed for 14 to 18 months. Killer whales are an important subject of mythology for many indigenous peoples, especially the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. The whales have not been hunted extensively by humans, although they have been hunted by some shore whaling operations, and some individuals have been taken as aquarium show animals from the waters around the Pacific Northwest and Iceland. Killer whales are perceived by many near-shore fishermen to be in competition with human fishing activity. Scientific classification: The killer whale belongs to the family Delphinidae of the suborder Odontoceti, order Cetacea. It is classified as Orcinus orca. The feeding activities of whales are directly related to their mouth and jaw structure and whether they possess baleen or teeth. Baleen whales are filter feeders with expandable mouths and