Sorry. I know that's a humpback photo, but there wasn't an orca in the image library.

Here have an Orca.

Click the button marked "add image" when choosing an image then link to a picture on the web or upload one of your own. (If you have Orca pictures on your pooter that is.)

Thanks.

DAMN and just when i thought we knew errrrverything

Where did you get this part?

Orcas typically are thought to live in cold water and eat seals. We are still learning.

That wasn't in the article at all.

As this is my favorite marine mammal, let me tell you they DO in fact eat fish. Killer Whales are found in all oceans and most seas, including (unusually for cetaceans) the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas. However, they prefer cooler temperate and polar regions.

There are three kinds of pods Orcas form.


Resident: These are the most commonly sighted of the three populations in the coastal waters of the northeast Pacific, including Puget Sound. The resident Killer Whales' diet consists primarily of fish and sometimes squid, and they live in complex and cohesive family groups. Pods possess lifelong family bonds, often living in large matrilineal groups and vocalizing in highly variable and complex dialects. "The basic unit of resident Orca society is a mother, all of her dependent offspring (approximately ten years or younger), and her adult offspring as well, including her sons. Females will eventually spend less time with their mothers, as they begin producing calves of their own, but resident males appear to remain with their mothers for their entire lives. They are known to visit the same areas consistently. The resident populations of British Columbia and Washington are amongst the most intensely studied marine mammals ever. Researchers have identified and named over 300 Killer Whales over the past 30 years.

Transient:The diet of these Killer Whales consists almost exclusively of marine mammals; they do not eat fish. Transients in southern Alaska generally travel in small groups, usually of two to six animals. Unlike residents, transients may not always stay together as a family unit. Pods consist of smaller groups with less persistent family bonds and vocalizing in less variable and less complex dialects. Female transients are characterized by dorsal fins that are more triangular and pointed than those of residents. The gray or white area around the dorsal fin, known as the "saddle patch", often contains some black coloring in residents. However, the saddle patches of transients are solid and uniformly gray. Transients roam widely along the coast—some individuals have been sighted in Southern Alaska and later in California.

Offshore: These Killer Whales were discovered in 1988 when a humpback whale researcher signaled to Killer Whale researchers Michael Bigg and Graeme Ellis that he saw Killer Whales in open water. These Killer Whales cruise the open oceans and feed primarily on fish, sharks and sea turtles. They have been seen traveling in groups of up to 60 animals. Currently, there is little known about the habits of this population, but they can be distinguished genetically from the residents and transients. Female offshores are characterized by dorsal fin tips that are continuously rounded.


Each subgroup has different coloring and doral fins as well.

I am disappointed that you posted information that was not true and put your own opinion on what you felt you knew about orcas.

Love that there are more than previously thought!, I only hope I get to see one close-up someday.

TM, the article does say, "It was also hard for some skeptics to believe: Orcas, as killer whales are also known, typically are thought to live in cold water and eat seals." I'm not sure what part of his description isn't factual..

Ok, I did see that in the article now, but it is still not true!!

The Pacific pod has been the most studied of all killer whales. They survive entirely on fish.

My dream vacation Kayaking with Killers

At least the comments are showing that they understand the inaccuracy as well!

Liam Smith from Canada writes: In the article it says " It was also hard for some skeptics to believe: Orcas, as killer whales are also known, typically are thought to live in cold water and eat seals."

This is wildly inaccurate. There are, to my knowledge, different diets for different pods of Orcas. Some only eat fish, some only eat seal, some eat a combination. Also, Orca pods are of three different types: Offshore, Local, and Transient. They don't mate.

This AP guy could have done ANY research.
Posted 25/03/09 at 12:40 PM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment

An amazing video of Orcas training their young to hunt.