Killer Whales Essay
explanatory Essay
2026 words
Killer whales (Ordines) are most commonly found in highly productive areas of cold-water like the Pacific Northwest, along northern Norway’s coast in the Atlantic, and the higher latitudes of the Southern Ocean. Killer whales are often found in warm areas such as Florida, Hawaii, Australia, the Galapagos Island, the Bahamas, and the Gulf of Mexico and more temperate such as New Zealand and South Africa. Although they do show the Killer whales ability to venture into tropical waters such sightings are highly infrequent. Killer Whales are the most widely distributed mammal in the world. Killer Whales seem to be the most abundant in coastal waters, but are also found in Open Ocean. There are five different forms of Antarctic Killer Whales that have different distributions. Type a Killer Whales are circumpolar and live offshore in ice-free water. Type B Killer Whales inhabit inshore waters of Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula; large type B near the pack ice; and …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the north atlantic killer whales migrate based on their prey, their migration is seasonal.
- Explains that the orca's fundamental niche is very similar to its realized niche because it can live successfully in many oceanic conditions and feed on a variety of animals.
- Explains that females mature faster than males when it comes to age maturity. killer whales live in pods and mate every 3 to 7 years due to what is known as polyestrous cycle.
- Explains that killer whales belong to the "delphinidae" family which makes them closer relatives of the dolphins. they are known by different names like orca, blackfish, or grampus.
- Explains that male antarctic type a killer whales can reach lengths of 9.2 m (30 ft.) making them the largest known whale.
- Opines that it is not fully understood why wild killer whale populations develop abnormal dorsal fins or why the observed males around new zealand had such a high rate compared to other studied populations.
- Explains that killer whales are the most widely distributed mammal in the world. they are agile and maneuverable.
- Explains that orcas are the apex predator of the ocean, feeding on fish, whales, sharks and penguins. they range between 16 and 26 feet long and can weigh up to 22,000 pounds.
- Explains that orcas are in the same family as dolphins and pilot whales. they are known as blackfish, sword whale, and assassin whale.
Orcas were once called “The Whale Killer” by sailors who often seen them attacking whales. Overtime, the name was reversed. Orcas are also known as Blackfish, sword whale, and assassin whale. Orcas do not have smelling organs or a lobe of the brain dedicated to smelling. They do have good senses of sight and hearing. They hear better than dogs and even bats, using these ability Orcas practice echolocation. Echolocation is when the Orcas produce sound and then listen to the echoes. Echolocation allows them to tell whether animals or objects are around or far, and just exactly how close or far they are. Like dolphins Orcas cannot completely go to sleep, because they have to up to the surface to breathe every once in a while. So they sleep with just half of their brains. If their left eye is open that means the right side of their brain is awake, and the other asleep, and vice
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- The Killer Whales: The Habits Of The Killer Whalesexplanatory essayThe killer whales are mammals. They have two common names the killer whale and the ocra. Killer whales inhabit most of the world’s oceans, going from warm waters to freezing cold waters (Monterey Aquarium). Not all of the killer whales are known because their are so many. Orca’s are very social and travel in pods. The whales usually stay with the same pods of whales as they travel.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the killer whale and the ocra are mammals that inhabit most of the world's oceans, from warm waters to freezing cold waters.
- Explains that ocras migrate with their food, and have seasonal migrations. they can eat humans, polar bears, reptiles and mooses to confuse their prey.
- Explains that killer whales have five senses: hearing, sight, touch, taste, and smell. their eyesight is better than any land animal.
- Explains that dna from other species of toothed whales indicates that the eyes do not develop pigment cells called "s-cones," which are sensitive to blue light.
- Explains that a killer whale's average size is 6-10 tons and eats 551 pounds per day, which is 250 kg.
- Explains that if a killer whale's skin is wearing down it can grow back new skin with the exact pattern as before the skin was damaged. killer whales have ears on their head, which helps them hear sounds under water.
- Explains that killer whales can make sounds like whistles, clicks and calls for hunting, moans and squeaking noises. they can travel to one another by loudness and other reasons.
560 wordsRead More - Killer Whales - The Orcasexplanatory essayKiller Whales - The Orcas Killer whales are one of the most fascinating displays of ocean life. The killer whale has characteristics that are important to its survival in the ocean. It is interesting to know that killer whales have a plentiful diet. It is astounding to see how killer whales behave in the ocean. I plan to tell you about the killer whale, its characteristics, its diet, and its behavior in the ocean as well as the predation of the orca.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that killer whales are fascinating displays of ocean life. they have a plentiful diet, and their behavior in the ocean is astounding.
- Explains that orcinus orca is the scientific name for the massive marine mammal. they are not rare, but have declining numbers in some areas.
- Explains the distinctive features of the orca, such as the dorsal fin, the pectoral, and the conical teeth.
- Explains that orcas eat fish and squid, but will devour almost any marine animal in site. the behavior of the orca is remarkable.
1109 wordsRead More - Killer Whales: The Killer Whaleexplanatory essayThe Killer Whale, that has a ring to it doesn’t it? Orcas, Killer Whales, are not actually Whales, in fact, they are a part of the Dolphin family. The name “Killer Whale” developed over time stemming from “Whale Killer.” They were once called Whale Killer due to the fact that sailors witnessed their attacks on larger cetaceans. Orcas are the largest member of the Dolphin family and the largest orca ever captured was 32 feet long. To put that in perspective, that’s about the size of almost 7 humans put together! Because of their size and strength, they are the largest apex predators on Earth. Although whaling was hugely popular, there is only one known community of Orcas, that are in fact, endangered having only 82 members of its pod. This community of orcas is called the Southern Resident Community.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the name "killer whale" stems from "whale killer" due to the fact that sailors witnessed their attacks on larger cetaceans. orcas are the largest apex predators on earth.
- Explains that orcas are larger than females and have longer dorsal fins, pectoral flippers, tail flukes, and girths. orcas have a cylinder-shaped body that tapers on each end of the body.
- Explains that many characteristics of an orcas lifestyle are unknown because of the challenge to observe them in their natural habitat.
- Explains that orcas thrive on social interaction and being part of a community or pod.
- Explains that orca populations are widespread throughout the earth's oceans, and that each community of orcas requires different environments.
- Explains that north atlantic orcas follow the movements of herring, while the pacific northwest travels with salmon.
- Explains that the southern resident community is the only orca community to ever get put on the endangered species list.
1691 wordsRead More - Scientific Analysis of Killer Whalesexplanatory essayScientific Analysis of Killer Whales Scientific Classification: Order & Genus. The scientific order of all types of whales is Cetacea. This large order is broken down into three further groups as well: the toothed whales or Odontoceti, which includes killer whales, dolphins, porpoises, beluga whales, and sperm whales, the baleen whales or Mysticeti, which include blue whales, humpback whales, gray whales, and right whales, and the Archaeoceti order, which are all now extinct. The genus of these species is Orcinus orca. Family.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the scientific order of all types of whales is cetacea, which is broken down into three further groups as well.
- Explains that killer whales can be found in all oceans, but their distribution is limited by seasonal pack ice. they cause much of the migration of many fish and other prey.
- Describes the characteristics of a killer whale, including its size, body shape, and coloration.
- Explains that a killer whale's hearing and eyesight are well-developed and their skin is sensitive to the touch. they have no sense of smell.
- Explains that killer whales are among the fastest swimming marine mammals and can swim speeds of up to 30 mph. they dive to depths of about 100 to 200 feet.
- Explains that killer whales live in groups called pods. they are long-term social units that usually consists of males, females and calves of varying ages.
- Explains that killer whales are the most active predators in the ocean. they eat fish, marine mammals, and seabirds.
- Explains that females become sexually mature when they reach about fifteen to sixteen feet, at about six to ten years, while males mature by about eighteen to twenty feet. breeding occurs in any season, but is most common in the summer.
- Explains that killer whales rely on sound production and reception to navigate, communicate, and hunt in dark or murky waters.
1409 wordsRead More - Orcas in SeaWorldexplanatory essay"Killer Whales in Captivity." National Marine Mammal Laboratory. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. .
In this essay, the author
- Explains that orcas exhibit aberrant and aggressive behavior in captivity because of incompatibility among captive whales.
- Explains that the life expectancy of a killer whale is reduced when in captivity. captive whales die young for pneumonia, septicemia, and injuries.
- Explains that orcas in captivity are known to be pregnant too young or too often, and the mothers do not have the necessary childrearing skills or maturity to successfully teach a calf to survive.
- Explains that orcinus orcas are extremely intelligent, socially complex, and family oriented animals. the confinement of these animals for human amusement leads to aggression, death at an early age and numerous health problems.
- Opines that capturing orcinus orcas has changed the way we look at them from large, killing predators to charismatic, obedient, sweet creatures.
- Explains that captivity drives killer whales crazy: seaworld fights fines for placing profit over safety.
955 wordsRead More - Essay On Humpback Whalesexplanatory essayHumpback Whales Humpback whales are amazing mammals and they go through a lot of extraordinary things to be able to survive. There are many whales in the ocean, but the whales that are in the Hawaiian culture areas have many difficulties and most people don't understand why. Humpback whales have the scientific name of Megaptera Novaeangliae, that species of baleen whale is one of the larger species, and adults range in length from twelve to sixteen metres which is thirty to fifty-two feet.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that humpback whales are amazing mammals and they go through a lot of extraordinary things to be able to survive.
- Opines that humpback whales are migrating mammals and always will be, as long as the seasons change. their range is crazy, considering an average person can only walk for so long before their legs start hurting or tired.
- Explains that humpback whales are long-distance ocean travelers who migrate between their winter birthplaces in the tropical areas and alaska breeding grounds.
- Explains that humpback whales give birth to their babies and teach them about what to eat, and where they travel to when the seasons change.
- Explains that humpback whales travel to mexico, hawaii, or japan during the winter months. they are acrobatic and have paired blowholes that are equivalent to nostrils.
- Explains that james bartley was swallowed by a sperm whale in 1856, he was found in the fore stomach for fifteen hours and died in 1902.
- Explains that humpback whales are loud, noisiest, and most imaginative creatures when it comes to songs. they make wines and cries that sound so beautiful underwater and you can hear it for miles with a boat.
- Explains that whales belong to the order of cetacea, which is whale, porpoises, and dolphins. the effects of global warming affect the marine animals more than people might think.
- Opines that whales are in the world for a reason, although we use them to make wax for candles to food on our table.
1213 wordsRead More - Killer Whales in Captivityopinion essayKiller Whales in Captivity Killer Whales are marine mammals that are too big to be kept in captivity. Many people say that killer whales should not be held in a cage. When searching through evidence about killer whales in captivity, it appeared that it is very dangerous for marine mammals that are large and harmful to be in a concrete pool. Killer whales in captivity is bad and should not be done.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that killer whales are too big to be kept in a cage and that they should be left with their loving families.
- Opines that it is dangerous for killer whales to be in captivity, since they are big, strong, and powerful. seaworld needs to spend billions of dollars to give them bigger tanks or leave them at home.
- Opines that having killer whales in captivity is a good thing, since the scientific community can provide better knowledge on whale chemistry and whale communities while they are captive.
- Opines that killer whales in captivity are bad and dangerous for those working with them, so seaworld needs to improve their tanks for them.
514 wordsRead More - Baleen Whales Research Papercomparative essayAt first sight, toothed whales and baleen whales look identical, but on closer examination, there are significant differences. Toothed whales and baleen whales can be classified in the domain Eukarya, the kingdom Animalia, the phylum Chordata (vertebrates), the class Mammalia (mammals), and the order Cetacea. Toothed whales and baleen whales belong to the order Cetacea (from the Greek word “Cetus” which means whale), which can be divided into three suborders: Mysticeti, Odontoceti, and Archaeoceti. Mysticeti, or baleen whales, include whales such as the Blue whale, Humpback whales, Grey whale and Right whale. Odontoceti, or toothed whales, include whales such as Sperm Whales, White Whales, Beaked Whales, Dolphins, Pilot Whales, Killer Whales,
In this essay, the author
- Explains that toothed and baleen whales belong to the order cetacea, which can be divided into three suborders.
- Explains the differences between toothed and baleen whales by looking at their diet.
- Compares toothed and baleen whales by looking at their physical traits, genetics, and evolution.
- Compares toothed and baleen whales by looking at their behaviour. both are social and travel in groups.
849 wordsRead More - Dolphin Essayexplanatory essayWhat is a dolphin? A dolphin is an aquatic mammal. There are a various amount of species of dolphins,who eat a large variety of food,and can live in several different environments.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that a dolphin is an aquatic mammal. there are thirty-two different species of oceanic dolphins and five different types of river dolphin.
- Explains that dolphins are intelligent, curious, and form strong bonds with their pod. they are interesting to humans, because of their leaps.
- Explains that dolphins can move through water quickly without exerting large amounts of energy due to the design of their body. they rely on their pectoral fins and fluke.
- Explains that dolphins have a fast healing process. deep wounds get healed quickly, such as shark bites. other mammals can't heal as quickly.
- Explains that dolphins are active predators and their diet includes a large variety of squids, fish, and crustaceans. dolphins have compartmentalized stomachs for rapid digestion.
- Explains that dolphin hunting strategies are varied and diverse. dolphins cooperate when hunting and catching, but they also feed on indivdual fish.
- Explains that dolphins are found in all of the oceans, including atlantic, indian, pacific, and artic ocean. most live in saltwater, but there are some that reside in freshwater.
- Explains that a dolphin's birth occurs while the mother is swimming actively towards the bottom off the sea floor. the young calf stays with its mother for eleven to eighteen months.
- Explains that whales are a part of the dolphin family because they are aquatic mammals. dolphins need air and breathing intervals. they can be migrational.
- Explains that dolphins are carnivores, and yet they show such playful attitudes towards humans. interacting with humans swimming in water is a big example.
609 wordsRead More - Taking a Look at the Beluga Whaleexplanatory essayThese small white whales can be found globally, mainly in arctic waters, and some are foun...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that there are about 16,118 endangered species worldwide that are listed in the iucn red list. the beluga whale is considered a near threatened species due to pollution, over hunting, habitat loss, and climate change.
- Explains that belugas are social, small white whales with a bulbous melon on their head, which distinguishes them from others. they have soft and flexible blubber around their heads, and can change their facial expressions relatively easy.
- Explains that beluga whales spend most of their lives swimming in cold arctic waters, but during the summer they migrate to shallow estuaries and bays.
- Explains that the beluga whale was officially classified as a near threatened species by the iucn red list (delphinapterus leucas).
- Explains that beluga whales have declined in population due to the pollution found within their habitat. the st. lawrence river has been polluted by power stations, aluminum plants, and oil rigs.
- Explains that the beluga whale population is declining constantly because of humans over hunting it. native arctic people from russia, canada, and alaska have hunted the whale to use it for many purposes.
- Explains that the beluga whale population is in danger because of the loss of habitat and global climate change.
- Explains that the marine mammal protection act protects beluga whales. the act prohibits the importation of marine mammals and products made of them into the united states.
- Explains that the international whaling commission (iwc) is in charge of the whales in the ocean and whaling management in 88 countries around the world.
- Explains that the defenders of wildlife is working on the national marine fisheries service cook inlet beluga recovery team, which is preparing a plan to help get the beluga whale population back up.
- Explains that the save the whales organization educates children and adults about the life of belugas and their preservation.
- Explains that there are many causes that are putting the beluga whale in danger everyday such as pollution, over hunting, and habitat loss and climate change.
1397 wordsRead More