Did you know the Narwhal’s famous tusk is actually a modified canine tooth that can grow up to 3 metres long?

Narwhals also change colour as they age - from blotchy grey or brown at birth, to dark grey-black, and finally to a lighter, mottled white!

#Narwhals #OrcaFacts #ORCA

Orcas, also known as killer whales, are the largest members of the dolphin family. These intelligent, apex predators are found in all the world's oceans. 🌎 One surprising fact: Orcas have up to 45 razor-sharp teeth and can bite with a force of 19000 psi #SpeciesSpotlight #OrcaFacts #MarineLife

#OrcaFacts: Southern Resident Killer Whales are some of the only animals we know of to concretely display social learning. Many of their behaviours are passed down from mother to calf through generations.
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Killer Whales have huge appetites. Though their daily intake of food can vary based on a number of factors, average-sized Killer Whales may eat about 500 pounds (227 kg) of food a day – about half of the weight of a grand piano!
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Scientists studying BC’s Offshore orcas noticed that their teeth were very worn down which led to them to hypothesize that they were feeding on rough skinned sharks This was later confirmed to be their primary source of food.
Photo by Slater Moore
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Southern Resident Killer Whales are a matriarchal species. Calves almost always stay with their mothers, regardless of sex, for their entire lives.
Photo by Gary
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Southern Resident KWs are the best studied population of marine mammal on Earth yet we still don't have a clear understanding of where these animals spend their winter months All the more reason for continued research & more story submissions to our library!
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: There are many distinct populations of orca around the world. So far scientists recognize 5 different ecotypes in the Northern hemisphere and 5 in the Southern hemisphere.
Poster by Uko Gorter
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Type D orcas are a subantarctic ecotype, first discovered in the 1950s. They share the same black-and-white colouring on their dorsal and ventral sides as other orcas but they have shorter dorsal fins, rounder melons, and the smallest eye patch of any ecotype.

#OrcaFacts: Orcas are apex predators—they are at the top each of their respective food webs and have no natural predators.
Photo by Whale Watch Western Australia
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Northern Resident Orcas are salmon specialists found in the central an& d northern waters of BC. They can be divided into three clans, A, G, and R, each with distinct vocals and feeding behaviours with an estimated 300+ individuals in the population.
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Southern Resident Killer Whales have distinct vocal patters, as do all KW populations. Each pod (J, K, and L) sounds a little bit different from the other and it has been thought that these differences help individuals avoid inbreeding within their pod.
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: New Zealand is home to between 150-200 killer whales who can be seen most frequently from December and March. They forage on numerous species but some specialize in catching stingrays right in Wellington harbour.
Photo by Gary
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Type C Killer Whales, or Ross Sea Killer Whales, are the smallest known Killer Whale in the world measuring only 6m or 20 feet. They have a very small and slanted eye patch and feed mainly on fish.
Photo by Naturaliste Charters
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Killer whales are one of only a handful of species where the females go through menopause and continue to live long after they are able to bear calves of their own.
Photo by Tasli

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#OrcaFacts: Bigg's hunt marine mammals-everything from small seals to whales twice their size! They are also frequently found in much smaller groups than Residents and their family bonds do not appear to be quite as strong.

#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Of the three Killer Whale ecotypes you can find in British Columbia, Offshores are the most mysterious and the least studied despite the fact that they seem to travel in extremely large groups, sometimes of over 50 or 100 individuals!
Photo by Slater Moore

#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Though many populations of Killer Whales travel through Scottish waters, there is a small unique individuals who call the Small Isles and Skye home. This pod, fondly referred to at the West Coast Community, have been seen preying on porpoises, dolphins, whales, and seals.

#OrcaFacts: Northern Resident Killer Whales are the only killer whale population known to rub their bodies regularly on beach stones in shallow water. This highly ritualized and social behaviour occurs near a few select beaches in British Columbia and southeast Alaska!
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Type A orcas are usually only found in Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere's summer when they can hunt minke whales and elephant seals in ice-free water.
Photo by Judith
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Orcas, like all dolphins, swallow their food whole. Their sharp teeth are used for ripping and tearing but are not suited for chewing.
Photo by Whale Watch Western Australia
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Southern Resident KWs are incredible predators and work together in their family groups to catch their food. Often, when one KW catches a salmon they will share it around with every other member of the group to ensure that no one goes hungry
Photo by Brendon
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Norway’s orcas are most often associated with the mass migration of herring which arrive in their Northern fjords every winter. Many Norwegian orcas hunt their herring prey using a technique called “carousel feeding” where multiple members of a pod encircle the herring,
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#OrcaFacts: Orcas are the most widespread animal on Earth besides humans. They can be found in every one of the world’s oceans and they have numerous different cultures, depending on where they live!
Photo by Judith
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Transient Killer Whales were renamed Bigg's Killer Whales in honour of Dr. Michael Bigg whose research changed the way we look at these animals.

#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: The larger Type B orcas, also know as Pack Ice Killer Whales, specialize in washing seals off of pack ice with waves they create as a group. The smaller Type B orcas, Gerlache Killer Whales, are often seen feeding on penguins.
Photo by Daniel
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Orca mothers are in it for the long haul. They are pregnant for an incredible 15-18 months, will nurse their calves for around 2 years, & in many cases, it’s believed that their young swim the rest of their lives by their side.

Photo @tomflip.bsky.social‬
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Researchers have been studying Southern Resident KWs since the 1960s, conducting increasingly specific studies of pop numbers, social dynamics, acoustic behaviour, prey preference, predatory techniques, & range distribution - to name only a few
Photo: Ashley
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

#OrcaFacts: Killer Whales are the largest species of dolphin and can grow up to 8 metres (26 ft) and 5,400 kg (6 tonnes)
Photo by Ashley
#WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth