Commonly known as the Killer whale, Orcinis Orca, isn’t actually a whale: its part of the dolphin family. (Ocean Today, n.d.)
It does share a lot of the same characteristics of dolphins, but the Orca has some unique features of its own. Its camouflage coloring for example, is counter shaded, black on the top and mostly white on the bottom. If you are looking down from above, the black on the dorsal side mixes with the dark waters of the ocean. If you’re looking up from below, the white on the ventral side blends into the water. So other animals may not recognize a Killer whale at first or when it’s too late.
Female Orcas are between 5 and 7 meters long, and males can reach up to 8 meters. In some cases, adults can reach up to 9.8 meters. Due …show more content…
Orcas do so by opening the muscular flap of the blowhole. The blowhole is completely airtight when closed.
Ocars breathe through a single blowhole on top of the melon. To open the blowhole, the Orca contracts the muscular flap covering the blowhole. Ocras hold their breath below water and open the blowhole to exhale just before reaching the surface of the water. Once at the surface, the Orca quickly inhales and closes the muscular flap.
The visible spout of water that rises from the blowhole is not actually coming from the lungs. Orca lungs do not tolerate water. The water comes from water that is settled on top of the blowhole when the powerful exhale begins, and is forced up with the exhaled respiratory gases. In cool air, a mist may form, this is water vapor condensing as the respiratory gases expand in the open air. So the visible blow that appears to be water is really water vapor condensing in the respiratory gases as they expand in the cooler ambient air. (Killer Whale Anatomy, n.d.)
Orcas choose, track, and stalk their prey, often choosing weaker targets for food and commonly use their tail flukes to kill or stun fish. Using their rather large teeth, they then tear into their prey and swallow it
It does share a lot of the same characteristics of dolphins, but the Orca has some unique features of its own. Its camouflage coloring for example, is counter shaded, black on the top and mostly white on the bottom. If you are looking down from above, the black on the dorsal side mixes with the dark waters of the ocean. If you’re looking up from below, the white on the ventral side blends into the water. So other animals may not recognize a Killer whale at first or when it’s too late.
Female Orcas are between 5 and 7 meters long, and males can reach up to 8 meters. In some cases, adults can reach up to 9.8 meters. Due …show more content…
Orcas do so by opening the muscular flap of the blowhole. The blowhole is completely airtight when closed.
Ocars breathe through a single blowhole on top of the melon. To open the blowhole, the Orca contracts the muscular flap covering the blowhole. Ocras hold their breath below water and open the blowhole to exhale just before reaching the surface of the water. Once at the surface, the Orca quickly inhales and closes the muscular flap.
The visible spout of water that rises from the blowhole is not actually coming from the lungs. Orca lungs do not tolerate water. The water comes from water that is settled on top of the blowhole when the powerful exhale begins, and is forced up with the exhaled respiratory gases. In cool air, a mist may form, this is water vapor condensing as the respiratory gases expand in the open air. So the visible blow that appears to be water is really water vapor condensing in the respiratory gases as they expand in the cooler ambient air. (Killer Whale Anatomy, n.d.)
Orcas choose, track, and stalk their prey, often choosing weaker targets for food and commonly use their tail flukes to kill or stun fish. Using their rather large teeth, they then tear into their prey and swallow it