News: A new study in the Journal of Comparative Psychology investigates why orcas are provisioning humans.
About Orcinus Orca (Killer Whale)
- It is a dolphin in the family Delphinidae, not a true whale, and it is the most widely distributed of all cetaceans.
- It is commonly called as the killer whale.
- It is an extremely fast swimmer, reaching about 54 kph.
- Size: Adult males are about 5 m long and can weigh up to 8 tons, while females are 7–8.5 m long and weigh 4 tons or more.
- Its calves at birth measure 2–2.4 m.
- Diet: Its diet includes fish, squid, turtles, birds, and dolphins, and it preys on large marine mammals, including the largest whales.
- Natural predators: Killer whale has no known natural predators, except possibly other killer whales.
- Behaviour
- It is highly social, like approaching fishing vessels to check nets or observe people.
- This behavior is due to high levels of encephalisation, meaning a larger brain size relative to the size of the body.
- It is highly social, like approaching fishing vessels to check nets or observe people.
- It relies on underwater sound to feed, communicate, and navigate.
- These animals live and hunt in groups led by a matriarch, the oldest female, and the group’s behaviour largely depends on the matriarch.
- Distribution
- Habitat and range: Killer whale occurs in all oceans and across a wide range of habitats in both open seas and coastal waters, mainly in cold regions such as Antarctica, Norway, and Alaska, but also in tropical and subtropical waters.
- India: In India, they are reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the southeast coast off Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, and the west coast from Maharashtra to Kerala.
- Conservation status: Data Deficient (IUCN).
