The Northern Hemisphere is also home to North Atlantic Type 1 and Type 2 killer whales. They live far from coastlines and have been seen eating fish and sharks, but relatively little is known about them. Offshore orcas can also be found in this region. These orcas travel great distances and hunt mammals such as seals and whale calves. Bigg's killer whales, or transient orcas, can also be found in the North Pacific. In the North Pacific, scientists have identified resident orcas, which tend to have small ranges - hence the name - and specialize in catching fish. There are currently 10 described ecotypes: five in the Northern Hemisphere and five in the Southern Hemisphere, according to WDC. Killer whale ecotypes can vary in size, diet and behavior. However, there are recognizable differences between populations, and biologists have identified several distinct forms, known as ecotypes, which may actually be different species or subspecies, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Are there different types of orca?Īn orca hunts harbor seals in the ice around LeConte Bay, Alaska (Image credit: Getty)Īll orcas are currently listed under one species, Orcinus orca. For example, one study found that a group of orcas traveled from the waters off of Alaska to those near central California, according to IUCN - a distance of more than 1,200 miles (1,900 km). Orcas have been known to travel long distances. They live in every ocean around the world and have adapted to different climates, from the warm waters near the equator to the icy waters of the North and South Pole regions. Killer whales are the most widely distributed mammals, other than humans and possibly brown rats, according to SeaWorld. ![]() Males live shorter lives, with an average life span of 29 years and a maximum life span of 60 years, according to the Center for Whale Research in Washington state. Orcas work together to take care of the young, and other females in the pod will often help with the rearing.įemale killer whales have an average life span of 50 years, but some individuals are estimated to have lived up to 100 years. The gestation period usually lasts for around 17 months according to SeaWorld. Life in the podĪ female killer whale will give birth to one offspring at a time every three to 10 years. Three juvenile male orcas were involved in most of the attacks, and marine biologists investigating the incidents believe that the young males were playing with the boats by targeting the rudders and pushing the boats around. There were many reports beginning in the summer of 2020 of orcas ramming into and causing damage to sailing boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal, according to BBC News. Orcas in captivity, however, have attacked and killed people.Īlthough wild killer whales do not intentionally harm people, they have attacked boats. The Associated Press reported that a surfer was bitten in California in the early 1970s, which is the only relatively well-documented case of a wild orca actually biting a human. In 2005, a 12-year-old boy was "bumped" by a killer whale near Ketchikan, Alaska, in what may have been an aborted attack - similar to the surfer in Norway - or simply curiosity on behalf of the orca, according to the Associated Press, via The Seattle Times. The Norwegian Orca Survey said in a Facebook post that the orca likely realized the surfer was not a seal at the very last second. The orca seemed to pull out of the attack just before making contact. In 2017, an orca was caught on camera charging at a surfer during the Lofoten Masters surfing competition in Norway. Occasionally, an orca may mistake a human for something they do eat, such as a seal. ![]() This is because humans are not part of their natural diet. There is no record of an orca ever killing a human in the wild. These waves echo off objects, including prey, which the orcas can use to locate them, according to SeaWorld. They can use echolocation to identify their prey by creating sounds, or sound waves, that travel through the water. Orcas will also work together to catch larger prey or groups of prey, such as schools of fish, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List. Sometimes they beach themselves to catch seals on land, jumping from the water onto land. Orcas use many different techniques to catch prey. Gallery: Russia's Beautiful Killer Whales Sperm whales: the biggest toothed predator Pod of orcas frees a humpback whale from certain death
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