Small killer whale - description, habitat, lifestyle

The content of the article

1 Description
2 Habitat
3 Diet and Wildlife
4 The value of the species for humans
5 Interesting features
6 Species protection
7 Video: orca (Pseudorca crassidens)

The Killer Whale species belongs to the dolphin family. Outwardly, it does not differ from the usual killer whale, only slightly smaller in size.

Description

The body length of a female can reach 5 meters, and males up to 6 meters. Body weight varies from 980 to 180 kg.

The killer whale is almost completely black. Only in the neck and throat is there a gray tint. Due to the dark color, the small killer whale is also called black. On the sides are fins of a narrow and pointed shape. The dorsal fin has the shape of a sickle. The shape of the head is in the form of a cone. Inside the mouth there are about 44 large and sharp teeth.

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Habitat

Small killer whale prefers a temperate and tropical climate in the oceans. This species can often be found in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, in the Atlantic. The marine mammal lives on the territory from the shores of New Zealand to Japanese lands. In the east of the Pacific Ocean, black killer whales are found near Cape Horn and off the coast of Alaska. Many individuals live near the east African coast of the Indian Ocean. Orcas are found in the east and southeast of Asian regions.

Diet and Wildlife

The main food for the small killer whale is fish. In zoology, moments of aggression of a species on other underwater animals have not been recorded. From this we can conclude that the small killer whale does not pose a great danger, like ordinary killer whales. In general, these 2 varieties are completely different from each other, not counting external similarities. Due to large differences, the black killer whale was also called false, emphasizing the interspecific difference.

Small killer whales prefer flocking life. Migration occurs rarely and only over short distances. This species does not have a nomadic lifestyle.

The value of the species for humans

Hunting for killer whales is a rare phenomenon, since they do not carry special value for human hunting. In most cases, small killer whales are caught in Japan, where all seafood is the favorite treats of local residents. In other countries, marine animals live in huge aquariums, where they are taught tricks. Performances with false killer whales are always met with wild enthusiasm due to their beautiful performance.

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Interesting features

The species has one distinguishing feature - periodically, some individuals are thrown onto land. This phenomenon creates a lot of controversy among scientists and ordinary people. A specific example: in 2005, many representatives of the species threw themselves onto the land of Australia, its southwestern part. Almost the entire coast was strewn with black bodies. Then scientists were able to identify 4 groups of small killer whales, which were located at a distance of 300 meters from each other. Scientists have concluded that such divisions are ordinary flocks of killer whales.

However, thanks to the quick reaction of caring people, it was possible to avoid the mass extinction of the species. During the operation, only 1 individual died. About 1,500 people gathered to rescue black killer whales.

In 2009, mass ejection was also recorded on the coast of West Africa (Mauritania). The phenomenon was discovered early in the morning. Thanks to the volunteers, the black killer whales found themselves at sea again.

This behavior has not yet been studied. Scientists cannot come to a general conclusion regarding the mass suicides of marine mammals. Because of this, new theories are emerging. The most logical and popular of them: active underwater processes occur in the Earth's crust.Because of this, killer whale behavior changes dramatically. A person cannot investigate these phenomena, since they occur in the sea mass. However, if this theory is true, many other questions arise: why are only certain species so keenly reacting to underwater changes? For example, dolphins are not massively washed ashore, as killer whales and whales do.

Species protection

The false killer whale has a protective status due to a decrease in numbers. One of the reasons for the decrease in the number of individuals, precisely, is the massive throwing ashore.

Another factor is the person himself. In many countries where fisheries flourish, the small killer whale is very valuable because of its delicious meat.

Individuals can swallow dangerous garbage, because of which they die in agony. Also off the coast of Australia, black killer whales are often entangled in fishing nets.

Marine equipment affects the health and life of killer whales. Like many members of the cetacean family, killer whales have very sensitive hearing. Sound signals from ships harm the hearing aid.

Scientists predict changes in the climate of the entire planet, which will affect the life of animals.

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