scholarly journals Evidence for vocal learning in juvenile male killer whales, Orcinus orca, from an adventitious cross-socializing experiment

2014 ◽  
Vol 217 (8) ◽  
pp. 1229-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Crance ◽  
A. E. Bowles ◽  
A. Garver
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Juvenile Male ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Male Killer

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) attack and kill a Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni)

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 1603-1606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory K. Silber ◽  
Michael W. Newcomer ◽  
Héctor Pérez-Cortés M.
Keyword(s):  
Adult Male ◽  
Gulf Of California ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Lower Jaw ◽  
Large Wound ◽  
The Right ◽  
Male Killer

On 3 May 1988, we observed a group of killer whales that pursued, killed, and partially consumed a Bryde's whale in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico (31°01′N, 114°15′W). The attack was observed from 06:54 to 08:53 while circling in a single-engine aircraft at an altitude of 160 m. The group comprised about 15 killer whales, including two adult males and at least two calves. Females and (or) subadult males pressed the attack most intently. The killer whales tore skin and blubber from the right flank of the Bryde's whale, and on 11 occasions the killer whales swam onto the head or back of the Bryde's whale, which hindered its breathing. The respiration intervals of the Bryde's whale were short and irregular, and blow rates differed significantly from those of undisturbed Bryde's whales. Fatiguing the whale may have facilitated an easier kill by asphyxiation. After the death of the Bryde's whale, the two adult male killer whales surfaced slowly about 200–300 m away from the remainder of the group, which presumably fed on the submerged Bryde's whale carcass. Two days later, the drifting Bryde's whale carcass was located. A large wound was visible on the abdomen, and sections of the lower jaw had been removed. Like those of canids and some felids that hunt cooperatively when preying on ungulates, attacks by Orcinus orca exhibit coordination of activities and efficiency in dispatching prey.

Personality in captive killer whales (Orcinus orca): A rating approach based on the five-factor model.

2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulán Úbeda ◽  
Sara Ortín ◽  
Judy St. Leger ◽  
Miquel Llorente ◽  
Javier Almunia
Keyword(s):  
Factor Model ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales

scholarly journals Family feud: permanent group splitting in a highly philopatric mammal, the killer whale (Orcinus orca)

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva H. Stredulinsky ◽  
Chris T. Darimont ◽  
Lance Barrett-Lennard ◽  
Graeme M. Ellis ◽  
John K. B. Ford
Keyword(s):  
Killer Whale ◽  
Group Structure ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
Leadership Experience

Abstract For animals that tend to remain with their natal group rather than individually disperse, group sizes may become too large to benefit individual fitness. In such cases, group splitting (or fission) allows philopatric animals to form more optimal group sizes without sacrificing all familiar social relationships. Although permanent group splitting is observed in many mammals, it occurs relatively infrequently. Here, we use combined generalized modeling and machine learning approaches to provide a comprehensive examination of group splitting in a population of killer whales (Orcinus orca) that occurred over three decades. Fission occurred both along and across maternal lines, where animals dispersed in parallel with their closest maternal kin. Group splitting was more common: (1) in larger natal groups, (2) when the common maternal ancestor was no longer alive, and (3) among groups with greater substructuring. The death of a matriarch did not appear to immediately trigger splitting. Our data suggest intragroup competition for food, leadership experience and kinship are important factors that influence group splitting in this population. Our approach provides a foundation for future studies to examine the dynamics and consequences of matrilineal fission in killer whales and other taxa. Significance statement Group living among mammals often involves long-term social affiliation, strengthened by kinship and cooperative behaviours. As such, changes in group membership may have significant consequences for individuals’ fitness and a population’s genetic structure. Permanent group splitting is a complex and relatively rare phenomenon that has yet to be examined in detail in killer whales. In the context of a growing population, in which offspring of both sexes remain with their mothers for life, we provide the first in-depth examination of group splitting in killer whales, where splitting occurs both along and across maternal lines. We also undertake the first comprehensive assessment of how killer whale intragroup cohesion is influenced by both external and internal factors, including group structure, population and group demography, and resource abundance.

Sounds associated with foraging and prey capture in individual fish-eating killer whales, Orcinus orca

2019 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 3475-3486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marla M. Holt ◽  
M. Bradley Hanson ◽  
Candice K. Emmons ◽  
David K. Haas ◽  
Deborah A. Giles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prey Capture ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Individual Fish

scholarly journals Evaluating potential infectious disease threats for southern resident killer whales, Orcinus orca: a model for endangered species

2004 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph K. Gaydos ◽  
Kenneth C. Balcomb ◽  
Richard W. Osborne ◽  
Leslie Dierauf
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales

Soundscapes experienced by southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Salish Sea and implications of vessel noise

2021 ◽  
Vol 150 (4) ◽  
pp. A251-A251
Author(s):  
Rianna Burnham ◽  
Svein Vagle ◽  
Pramod Thupaki ◽  
Caitlin O'Neill
Keyword(s):  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Salish Sea ◽  
Vessel Noise

NOISE EFFECTS ON THE CALL AMPLITUDE OF SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES (ORCINUS ORCA)

Bioacoustics ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 164-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARLA M. HOLT ◽  
VAL VEIRS ◽  
SCOTT VEIRS
Keyword(s):  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Noise Effects
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