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Searching for ocean giants: Antarctic blue whales and their food

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Biological Sciences review

The species problem

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) can be found in every ocean and are one of the most geographically widespread mammals on earth. Currently researchers only recognise one species, Orcinus orca, and several distinct ‘types’. But are these ‘types’ separate species?

Southern hemisphere orca pushing itself back into the sea from the shore after an attack on a seal on the beach

Ancient sailors named orca ‘asesina ballenas’, or whale-killer. This name was eventually flipped to today’s common name, killer whale. The scientific name for these whales also makes reference to this – the generic name Orcinus meaning ‘of the kingdom of the dead’ and orca referring to a kind of whale.

Since Linnaeus formally described them in 1758, orca have been regarded as a single species. Scientists have recently uncovered a surprising amount of diversity among the different orca populations around the world. Many populations of orca have distinct vocalisations, food preferences and hunting behaviours. So in a sense they have their own cultures.

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Searching for ocean giants: Antarctic blue whales and their food

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Mucus: helpful goo or deadly glue?

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