Sea - an inexhaustible source of mysteries and puzzles, many of which are even disturbed venerable scientists.But there is a simple animal lovers who haunt much simpler problem.For example, the killer whale.It is a whale or a dolphin?Let's answer this question!
Let's start with the fact that this animal belongs to the aquatic mammals, belongs to the family Delphinidae.It refers to the kind of killer whales and is the only representative of his.Next of kin have been found only in Paleocene sediments Italian drags.
Who is this killer?It is a whale or a dolphin?Babbitt probably answer this question correctly, as in a society spread false name of this animal.
This is the nickname "killer whale", which it is awarded in the literature and in the pages of the tabloids.Hitherto not been approved as the Latin name of a mammal.Today adopted the name Orca Gray, 1846.
This predatory dolphin rather than a whale!The male can grow up to ten meters in length, weighing about eight tons, and the dorsal fin can be up to one and a half meters.Females are about two times smaller.
pectoral fins - wide and rounded, while at the other dolphins, they pointed and narrow.It is because of this feature for a long time, scientists could not decide which animals should be ranked among killer: it is a whale or a dolphin?
This distinctive dolphin is massive and heavy head, which are located in the mouth of teeth 10-13 cm long.They are specifically designed to attack even large prey.By the way speaking, at the time of the attack killer whale can reach speeds up to 60 km / h.
Contrary to popular opinion, the color of the mammal have a purely individual, differing greatly in different individuals.Usually, back black and white belly.The distinguishing feature - above the eyes have white spots.Not so rare instances completely white.Distributed
'whale' -kasatka (which has a photo in the article) is widely, meeting almost all seas.Keeps off the coast, preferring not to swim in the open sea beyond 800 km.No killer whales in the Black Sea and the Laptev Sea.In our country, it can be found in the vicinity of the Commander and Kuril Islands.
Each population is so narrow food specialization that often ignorant people ascribe to animals a variety of crimes.So, you can meet the question of who this killer: a whale or a shark?
This is due to the fact that some populations may be a lifetime quietly hunting for herrings, while others attacked solely on the seals.It is not surprising to suspect that the closest relatives of the killer whales are marine predator sharks!However, in the past, they also attacked, and it happens often.
Such strangeness expressed in an incredible variety of diet, clarified Canadian scientists.They found that all killer whales are divided into two types: "resident" and the transit of individuals.The first type is constantly dwells within the same water area, preying on fish and seafood.In the big game they attack very rarely.
But stopovers individuals - these are the most "killer whales."They constantly wander as follow flocks of dolphins, whales, walruses and seals.They love to hunt penguins, swarms knocking them to the ice floes.
Now, the question of who this killer whale (the whale or dolphin is) should not cause you thought!
