Marine Life Archives • Page 14 of 26 • Georgia Strait AllianceGeorgia Strait Alliance

June 3 Spyhop

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June 2 Group

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Orcas have the second-largest brain of any animal in the world.

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Killer whale brains weigh up to 15 pounds. Large brains paired with extreme amounts of folding or gyrification means things like language, memory and emotional capacity are highly developed, allowing them to develop rich culture. (Sperm whales have the largest brains).

There are at least 10 different eco-types of orcas in the world.

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Rebecca Adams. Add your comment.

Orca are found in every ocean around the world with the greatest number of different eco-types found in Antarctic waters. Different eco-types have evolved over millions of years as the genetics of each population became more and more segregated due to a lack of interbreeding between populations.

Orcas have been roaming oceans for approximately 6 million years.

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Rebecca Adams. Add your comment.

That’s 30 times longer than humans! However, over the past 200 years, human activities have contributed to several orca populations becoming endangered. Orcas are especially threatened by food shortages, chemical pollution, and increasing noise in the ocean.