Occasionally, turtles and seabirds, including penguins are added to their diet. However, the feeding habits of the different populations of orcas are well known. Resident killer whales, inhabiting eastern North Pacific waters, feed primarily on salmon, particularly chinook salmon or king salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha.
By contrast, transient orcas in the same region prefer marine mammals such as harbor seals Phoca vitulina , elephant seals Mirounga Genre , porpoises Phocoenidae family , sea lions subfamily Otariinae , minke whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata and Balaenoptera bonaerensis and others.
Across the world, in Norwegian waters, they go after schools of fish and manifest preference for herring Clupea Genre. New Zealand waters orcas prefer rays and sharks Both Elasmobranchii Subclass and those living in Antarctic feed on seals Family Phocidae , minke whales and several species of fish such as the Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni. This apex predator exhibits several techniques for hunting.
They are favored by their anatomy and strength, but also by their intelligence and social behavior. In addition to filter feeding, some baleen whales utilize a method known as bubble netting. With bubble netting, several whales will surround a group of whale food, blowing bubbles around the fish to get them in a ball towards the surface. After the fish have been herded, the whales will take turns feeding on the helpless prey.
One species of whale known to utilize bubble netting for feeding is the humpback whale. Also known as lunge netting, the humpbacks will usually target whale food like herring, blowing bubbles to herd them into a group. Other whales participating will scare the fish by making loud noises, causing them to head towards the surface.
Once at the surface, the humpback whales will lunge towards the fish with open mouths, consuming as many fish as they can. In most cases, baleen whales will engage in solitary behaviors when it comes to hunting for prey. However, certain species or pods of baleen whales will participate in group efforts to locate and capture food. Some whales, such as the grey whale, rely on prey found at the bottom of the ocean. These bottom feeders will swim to the bottom of the ocean, and then roll on their sides.
By doing this, they are able to disrupt sea sediments and prey. They will then capture the small fish, crabs, plankton, or other sea creatures that come up. While toothed whales tend to consume a varied diet of small and larger prey, baleen whales will hunt small prey they can swallow whole and in large quantities. No matter the species of whale, they have each adapted to their environments and personal attributes in order to thrive and eat well. The various methods of hunting utilized by whales, including echolocation, bubble netting, and filter feeding, have all proven effective in locating, isolating, and consuming different types of prey.
It is with these factors the unique diet of a whale can be identified and studied. Are you excited yet about witnessing this majestic giant in its natural habitat? If so, then all aboard Harbor Breeze. If you are ready for an unforgettable Long Beach whale watching and Los Angeles whale watching experience where grey whales are the most populous, then book your tour today.
Usually related to stress and inappropriate habitats, stereotypic behavior has been documented in orcas in scientific research since the late s. In the wild, orcas live in tight-knit family groups that share a sophisticated, unique culture that is passed down through generations, research has shown. In captivity, orcas are kept in artificial social groups. Captive-born orcas are often transferred between facilities, breaking up social relationships.
In , the documentary film Blackfish laid bare the psychological toll of captivity, through the story of a wild-caught orca named Tilikum who had killed two trainers at SeaWorld Orlando.
All rights reserved. Orcas are highly intelligent, social mammals. Common Name: Orca Killer Whale. Scientific Name: Orcinus orca. Type: Mammals. Diet: Carnivore. Group Name: Pod. Size: 23 to 32 feet. Weight: Up to 6 tons. Size relative to a bus:. Data deficient. Least Concern Extinct. In most cases, their diet is largely dependent on the region they live in and the food that lives in their local environment.
The primary diet of most killer whales consists of various fish such as herring, cod, hake, and several other small aquatic species. In some cases, they may also eat squid and octopus.
Killer whales that live near land have also been known to attack and eat other marine mammals.
0コメント