That is how it got the name killer whale. Unlike other marine mammals that prefer a solitary lifestyle its part of the killer whales nature to be connected with other killer whales. Dolphins and whales are closely related. Konrad Gessner wrote the first scientific description of a killer whale in his Piscium & aquatilium animantium natura of 1558, part of the larger Historia animalium, based on examination of a dead stranded animal in the Bay of Greifswald that had attracted a great deal of local interest. They weigh up to 6 tons (5,443 kilograms) and gro… Dolphins and whales are closely related. I think it is a variation of "Killer of Whales". These massive animals earned their name as killer whales because they are extremely large and power marine mammals that are known to consume a wide variety of prey. They are the hunters, not the hunted. So, if these toothed whales are more similar to dolphins, why did orcas start being called “whales” in the first place? In fact the culture of killer whales has been compared to those of elephants and humans as different groups may have their own hierarchies, interests, activities, personalities and diets. Ancient Romans originally applied the name Orca to these animals, possibly borrowing it from the Greek opue. In fact these dolphins are known to eat everything from small fish to large marine mammals and sharks. Killer whales are one of the top predators in the sea. The material on this site can not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with prior written permission of Multiply. Orcas are called killer whales due to the fact that they are the top predator in the ocean. Killer whales kill. The killer whale is a massive dolphin that is known to inhibit all parts of the world. Depending on where the killer whale pod lives the types of food they eat can vary dramatically. Furthermore there is more than one “type” of Orca or “Killer Whale”. It's all about taxonomy, or the scientific classification system. At times these dolphins may separate from their pod or join another pod to look for food, but will return to their pod once they’re done. With that said there are certain times of the year where dolphin species such as the killer whale may prefer to mate more frequently than others. They called orcas asesina ballenas, or ‘whale killer’ – a term that was eventually flipped around to the easier ‘killer whale’. In fact some groups may contain as many as 4 generations of family members. In all their ferociousness, they've been dubbed wolves of the sea, whale killers, killing demons and fish tigers, to name a few [source: National Geographic, PBS].Their scientific name, Orcinus orca, comes from the mythical Orcus -- the Roman god of death and the underworld, who was also known as a punisher [source: Britannica]. In regards to where killer whales can be found these marine mammals can be found traveling all over the world throughout all of the major oceans, but they primarily enjoy living in cool temperate waters that provide abundant food sources. They belong to the dolphin family, but they are their own distinct genus and species. Orcas were given the name ‘killer whale’ by ancient sailors’ observations of groups of orcas hunting and preying on larger whale species. When it comes to finding food killer whales can often be found hunting together as a team creating strategies to capture their prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and other species of dolphin. Transient pods consistently move to different environments and can be observed primarily hunting and consuming marine mammals as their primary diet. First, it’s said that many sailors spotted orcas preying on other whales and larger marine species, garnering them the nickname “whale killer.” Over time, this namesake morphed into “killer whale.” Killer whales that are found living in areas primarily surrounded by fish and squid will consume those types of food as their primary diet, while killer whales that live primarily in areas that are inhibited by marine animals such as seals, sea lions, penguins, walruses and other types of marine animals will primarily hunt and kill those animals for food. One other thing, they are not really whales, but a type of dolphin.Orcas are called killer whales due to the fact that they are the top predator in the ocean. They are the apex predators of the ocean. Copyright © 2020 Multiply Media, LLC. Just behind the dorsal fin is a patch of gray called a \"saddle\" — because it looks like a riding saddle. Some believe their name came from sailors who called them whale killers because they are known to eat whales. Resident pods are found living near coastal waters all year-long and primarily get their food sources from fish and squid. They’re not called killer whales for nothing.

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