Killer Whales across the 40 Oceans

 

Leaping waves hit the wave ruthless character! Killer whales across the four oceans

Beautiful and huge killer whales are distributed in all oceans in the world. According to the different ethnic groups, their eating habits are very different, and the predation strategies of different ethnic groups are very different. Do you know what the majestic shark fears most? The answer is the killer whale.


Leap the waves and hit the rugged characters! Killer whales across the four oceans 

In movies, TV series, documentaries, and countless marine aquariums, killer whales are the absolute beauty of the aquatic animal world.

 

Not only are they scary in appearances, but no matter children or adults, everyone is deeply fascinated by the black and white body color of killer whales-look at the small white dots on the black body, it is simply a giant panda in the water, no wonder there are So many people like it!

 

 

Figure 1: Killer whale jumping and hitting waves


Mountain and sickle, distinct dorsal fin

Killer whales have an average body length of 8-9 meters and weigh 6-9 tons. They are large and muscular; they are the largest aquatic species in the small-headed dolphin family of toothed whales, also known as killer whales, killer whales, and orcas; From the North Pole to the South Pole, it is distributed in all oceans in the world.

 

Although killer whales all over the world are called killer whales and their appearance is roughly the same, the huge differences in habitats (such as polar and tropical) have caused them to differentiate into many different sub-groups, and these sub-groups are not genetically structured. There are significant differences in, ecology and living habits.

 

 

Picture 2: A pair of killer whale  lovers, ears and temples


Some scientists even advocate that killer whales of different races should be classified into different subspecies or even new species; but at present, this is just a proposal.

 

In addition, killer whales are highly dimorphic animals, and the differences between males and females are mainly reflected in body size and dorsal fin: adult male killer whales are a bit larger than females. Records show that the largest male killer whale is 9.75 meters long and weighs 9524 kg; while the female is 8.53 meters long and weighs 6803 kg.

Figure 3: Comparison of the size of killer whales and humans


The dorsal fin of the killer whale is located in the center of the back, flat, narrow and towering, like long spines growing across the branches of thorny plants. Most male dorsal fins can grow up to 1-1.8 meters high, with a solid bottom and sharp top, like a steep mountain, which is highly recognizable and full of tough masculinity.

 

Figure 4: Male killer whale with straight dorsal fin


 On the other hand, females have relatively small dorsal fins, which are basically no more than 1 meter in length. 

They are shaped like a short-handled sickle, slightly bent behind their backs, showing their feminine beauty appropriately.


Figure 5: Female killer whale dorsal fin is short and curved

 

 

Killer Whales have Diversified diet, even close relatives can eat well

The killer whales at the top of the marine food chain are keen to hunt all kinds of fish, mammals, marine invertebrates, seabirds and turtles.

Their food types are the most diverse of cetaceans, with different habitats Ethnic groups have their own unique eating habits, which will be passed on from generation to generation.

 

For example, killer whales that live in the Arctic will hunt walruses, harp seals, ring seals and crested seals for food, and occasionally besiege large whales such as narwhal and beluga.

 

Picture 6: Killer whale cruising in the sea

 

The killer whales of Antarctica have a soft spot for leopard seals, and the two animals have been hostile to each other for a long time. There, the killer whale even became the only natural enemy of the leopard seal.

 

The killer whales living in Alaska have surprising food addictions. Their favorite food is precisely their close relative, the white-rumped vaquita.

 

The white-rumped vaquita is a small dolphin that swims very fast (a little bit bigger than us humans). They are covered with black skin and have white spots on their abdomen and dorsal fins. If you don’t look at the size alone, they and The killer whale is almost carved out of a mold.

 

Picture 7: White-rumped porpoise, also known as Dole porpoise

Imagine if you also have a relative who shines and drools when you see yourself, and wants to swallow you all the time, how tired you have to live?

So here, we express our most concerned condolences to the hard life of the white-rumped porpoise.

 

Figure 8: Comparison of white-rumped vaquita and human body size


In addition, the killer whales living on the northwest coast of North America also prey on land animals. Moose and other deer animals often swim across the sea between islands near the coast to find food. When they enter the water, hum, they enter the range of killer whales.


What horns, hairs, hooves, and tails can make it difficult to digest. Killer whales don't care about these. Since the cute and attractive deer came to the door, of course they would eat it quickly.

 

Thirty-six counts! Dazzling predation strategy

Killer whales are extremely intelligent, and they may be one of the smartest animals in the sea; this is mainly reflected in their predation strategy-each group has a set of different predation strategies that are quite different.

 

These strategies are complicated and often suspicious, making people guess the beginning but not the end; and the strategies are intertwined and interlocking, and the wonderful things abound. 

Watching them hunting is like watching a live "Thirty-Six Strategies", which is dazzling and amazed!


Killer whales living in the Arctic will single out small prey such as walruses, harp seals, ring seals, etc.

When facing bowhead whales, humpback whales, and even huge fin and blue whales, they call Peng Huayou, using quite clever means to launch the wheel tactics-this is actually the same as the wolf pack tactics-siege without attacking, frequent harassment, until the opponent's physical strength is exhausted before launching a general attack.

 

When hunting fur seals, killer whales will launch the strategy of "the reality is the imaginary, and the imaginary is the real": they will appoint a strong forward with a large dorsal fin to swim on the water surface to attract the attention of the seal group .


At this time, the other killer whales dived deeper and approached quietly from the left and right sides of the seal group. Hearing only one command (of course, only they can hear their command, it is ultrasound after all), the killer whales on both sides jumped out of the sea, opened their blood basins and opened their mouths to give the seals a lightning strike. 

The seals were frightened. Rong lost her color, so she had no choice but to flee and plunge into the sea. As for the guys with inflexible legs and poor reactions, they have become the dead souls under the sharp teeth of killer whales.

 

But in fact, the strategy to this step is only a false move. The main purpose of the killer whales that suddenly jumped out is to intimidate the seal group and make them jump into the sea in a panic. 

Once in the sea, the Nature TV will automatically switch the channel and start broadcasting the killer whale exclusive program.

 

The fastest swimming speed of the killer whale can reach 55km/h, and the northern seal, the representative of the seals, can only reach 8km/h even if they do their best.

 

At this time, the big killer whale that previously served as the bait took the lead in attacking, and the killer whales ambushing in deeper waters followed closely behind. So blood, fat, meat, and fur (the fur seals are hairy). All kinds of things are either swallowed in the abdomen, or torn into pieces, just floating in the upper, middle and lower layers of the sea, as if they are showing to the world. 

This is the collective cemetery of the sea dogs. The picture is really too bloody, so I just touched it here.

 

 

 

Picture 13: Rao Ah Rao ~ Dance of Killer Whales

 

The killer whale population living in New Zealand mainly feeds on cartilaginous fish, and its menu includes a variety of ray fish and sharks. For killer whales, sharks are more than just food, they are also their competitors, so if they can fill their stomachs and eliminate a guy who will snatch their food resources, such a cost-effective business will kill two birds with one stone. Why not?

 

When attacking large filter-feeding sharks, they basically use wolf pack tactics to win by number; but if their opponents are similar to themselves or smaller (the great white sharks, ferret sharks and Pacific sleeping sharks are all in this category), the tiger The whale will use the hand-to-hand tactics of "fist and fist": one after another killer whales swing their tails to increase their speed, and directly slam these sharks from the side.

 

 

 

Figure 14: Killer whale hitting a shark

 

After evading the powerful collisions time and time again, some sharks concussed their brains and fell into a state of fainting after turning their eyes. Next, the killer whale with its index finger moved swallowed its saliva and opened its mouth wide to eat and chew.

 

What are sharks most afraid of? The answer is killer whale

In 1997, cetacean researchers discovered that when killer whales in the Farallen Islands were hunting great white sharks, they used the above methods to knock the great white sharks stunned, and then they turned the shark's whole body in a circle so that its belly was facing up. The great white shark suffocated and died before tearing its body apart and eating its flesh. There was a cruel hunt like a revenge ritual.

 

An interesting digression-for great white sharks, killer whales may be the most unwilling creatures to see in the vast ocean. They are afraid of killer whales, scared to the point of incredible.

 

 

 

Picture 15: Retreat, there are killer whales here!

 

Scientists have done a study in the western waters of Australia where great white sharks gather. After they played the calls of killer whales, the great white sharks in the surrounding waters looked like a group of frightened wild horses, turning their heads and fleeing; for as long as three hours. During the playing time of, not even one shark appeared in the sea area.

 

Today, the calls of killer whales have been proven to have a strong shark repellent effect. Researchers are using this advantage to transform the beaches, so that the beaches where tourists gather are protected from sharks and become safer.

 

The ruthless role of the ocean hunting ground

Having said that, among the killer whale's predation methods, the most wonderful thing may be the next trick-"Mantis catches cicadas, and the oriole is behind."

 

Killer whales living in many areas have the habit of preying on birds, and birds such as cormorants and seagulls are regular visitors to their stomachs. There was a record that killer whales deliberately drove schools of fish to the surface of the sea, and the seagulls flying in the sky took a look, oh my god, good fellow! Fish are densely packed! So the seagulls roared and plunged into the sea, and began to prey on small fish.

 

 

 

Picture 16: Orca herd driving away prey

 

At this time, hehe, while showing a smug grin, the killer whale quickly floated up, swallowing many greedy seagulls in their mouths, and asked them to settle down in their stomachs and spend the rest of their lives without thinking. .

 

The killer whale is a cunning and intelligent animal. In nature’s hunting grounds and wars against other creatures, they are majestic and commanding generals, as well as far-sighted and talented staff and soldiers, and at the same time decisive and unhesitating frontline fighters.

 

The three advantages converge in one place, no wonder they can sail across the four oceans and become the most feared and ruthless characters in the sea.




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