NetControl.net Archive of ::Orcinus orca

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times since October 19, 1995.

Whew...fixed up that problem with the broken images (01/19/97)
Well, I *finally* got a chance to fix up the site a tad as well as upload some of the images numerous people sent in! These are located in the photos#3 folder below
Curious about Keiko's current condition? You know... Keiko, from the Free Willy movies. Yeah, that's who! Visit the discovery channel's Keiko, Back to the Sea
I will also be placing additional info. as well as a great story created by Rich Nevison to be shared by all, very soon!
If you happen to find any errors or broken links, please drop me a message so I can correct it/them
I am also asking, if possible, for anyone with other killer whale GIFS, PICTS etc. or valuable sources for information, that they would like to share with others to E-mail them to me to be placed on the site. Thanks again! =)

Belongs to the Family Delphinidae, where it rules as the largest member of the dolphins

It's common name , recognized by many people, is killer whale (originally called "whale killer" by Spanish whalers)
It's scientific name is Orcinus orca
The Romans called it "orca," meaning "demon from hell"
Grampus

Found in all of the world's oceans, particulary only in cooler temperatured waters

Males can grow up to approx. 32 ft. in length and can weigh in at 10 tons
Females can grow up to approx. 27 ft. in length and can weigh in at 7 tons
Newborn calves are approx. 7 ft. in length and weigh in at almost 400 lbs. upon birth

Noticible black and white undermarking
Tall dorsal fins reaching up to 6ft. tall in males and 3ft. in females (males have tall, long dorsal fins whereas the females have sickle-shaped ones; very easy to differenciate)
Special saddle shape located near dorsal fin, unique to each animal. This is one way researchers indentify specific indivisuals
An average of 24 sharp, conical, slightly curved teeth occupy the orca's mouth

Salmon, herring, birds, squid and even other mammals (such as seals, dolphins, walrus, penquins and the immense blue whale),

Orcas live in pods of up to 50 whales. Within these pods are smaller units called subpods. Still, inside the subpods, are even lesser units named maternal groups
Orcas stay with their subpods for all their lives and it later becomes their hunting group

Spyhopping -This involves the orca accomplishing a tailstand and bringing its head out of the water, allowing for a 360 degree view of its surroundings

Breaching- This is where the killer whale completely leaps out of the water and lands with an emense explosion as it hits the surface
Lobtailing- An interesting display, showing that the orca interprets something nearby as a possible threat
Slapping- This involves the orca slapping its flippers against the surface of the water. The behavior could be used for gathering fish, making for an easy prey gatherup

Reseachers have currently indentified up to 62 seperate sounds produced underwater, which consists mainly of high pitched shrills and shrieks
Every individual has a dialect language particular to its area of origin

"The Killer Whale is the only marine mammal that could be perfectly capable of being a formidable enemy of man. Its size, its jumping ability, its speed, its very powerful jaws, its massive pointed teeth, all in the service of one of the leading animal intelligences, could make it the equal of the most dangerous shark."Yet,"There is no evidence that a killer whale has ever killed and eaten a human being."

-exerted from The Jaws of Death by Xavier Maniguet

"Human remains have been found in the stomach of one specimen, but there was nothing to prove that the man had been killed by the whale."

-exerted from The Jaws of Death by Xavier Maniguet

Humans tend to assume the worst about things we do not understand. For example, this straightforward exert was taken from the Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia vol. 25, 1972: "It [killer whale] is extremely dangerous to man."