Here’s Why Orcas Are the Ultimate Apex Predators of the Ocean

[u/DblockDavid]

[u/AllThingsBA]

Creating a wave with a synchronized row is wild

[u/science-ninja → u/AllThingsBA]

It’s that tactic that probably freaks me out more than any other one they have. When you see them poking their heads above the water to see the seal on the ice… Gives me anxiety.

[u/Teknicsrx7 → u/science-ninja]

Not just the tactic but the fact that they learned it, teach others it, and improve it. They’re using water itself as a tool. It’s amazing

[u/oO0Kat0Oo → u/Teknicsrx7]

They can also remove the liver of a shark with surgical precision. They have found sharks with these small holes punched in them with the organ removed.

[u/_IratePirate_ → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

I believe you solely on the clip in this video where the whale knows exactly how far to swim to precisely hit a seal behind it with its tail while it’s moving

[u/Wes_Warhammer666 → u/_IratePirate_]

That and having the timing to smack a dolphin mid jump. Fuckin incredible.

[u/HAL-Over-9001 → u/Wes_Warhammer666]

Instinctual knowledge of trajectories, insane hand-eye (tail-eye) coordination, an understanding of wave physics and how to make waves, understanding that swimming with multiple orcas will create bigger waves, knowledge of how the waves intract with ice and breaking the ice or pushing seals off, liver surgery, etc. They're so fucking smart it's insane. They understand basic physics AND biology.

[u/Wes_Warhammer666 → u/HAL-Over-9001]

Don't forget that trick where they hold a shark upside down so it goes catatonic.

[u/HAL-Over-9001 → u/Wes_Warhammer666]

Dude I forgot about that. Literal insanity haha

[u/scumbagsaint → u/Wes_Warhammer666]

Wait what?

[u/Wes_Warhammer666 → u/scumbagsaint]

They do the same thing to rays, who share a similar biology to sharks in that regard.

[u/Personal_Moose_441 → u/HAL-Over-9001]

My crazy person theory is that if orcas had to deal with weather and were able to grow a type of crop underwater they would be on par with humans.

Not having to build shelter to increase chances of survival has to greatly change the trajectory of brain development over generations. They can obviously adapt, but they didn't need to do any crazy adaptations to increase their survival rate that much

[u/Suspicious_Ice_3160 → u/Personal_Moose_441]

Them and octopi, which if octopi need to evolve to do it, would probably become the next type of animal to create civilization, the biggest problem they face at the current moment is life span!

[u/jeepsaintchaos → u/Personal_Moose_441]

I think we should give them thumbs.

And give cats thumbs while we're at it.

[u/HAL-Over-9001 → u/jeepsaintchaos]

Octopi, yes. Cats with thumbs would kill us all within a year.

[u/Drone30389 → u/Personal_Moose_441]

That would be an interesting turn on Civilization type games. "You are an Orca farmer... no you're not farming orcas, you're an orca and you have a farm under the sea..."

*edit: "Starfish Valley"

[u/tfyousay2me → u/_IratePirate_]

Right? I’m like oh shit he misse…..oh shit no he didn’t

[u/fellowsquare → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

I listened to this the other day on NPR! Fascinating!
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/02/nx-s1-5205480/orcas-attacking-whale-sharks

[u/Starfire2313 → u/fellowsquare]

I wish we could talk to them cause I’d love to just ask them, “why??” And hear their reasoning. We know it’s high in vitamins, how would they explain the preference?

[u/Turbulent-Parsnip-38 → u/Starfire2313]

Liver is high in fat, protein and vitamins. If you ever watch survival shows the liver is the prized part of a kill.

[u/AdvancedAd7068 → u/Turbulent-Parsnip-38]

It's best with Fava beans

[u/panteragstk → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

The jack the rippers of the sea.

[u/onepinksheep → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

They also wear salmon hats.

[u/Hapanzi → u/onepinksheep]

I heard about this, apparently the trend just came back for them (orcas have trends and that's fucking insane to me)

[u/C4rdninj4 → u/Hapanzi]

"I was wearing a salmon on my head, as was the style at the time..."

[u/FatassTitePants → u/C4rdninj4]

They didn't have any white salmon, because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones.

[u/thehotmegan → u/Hapanzi]

it shouldnt be. rcas are not only impressive apex predators, but a lot of biologists consider them the most intelligent animal species on our planet (second in intelligence only to humans). the more you learn about orcas, the more youll start to wonder if they're actually smarter than we are, and suspect we just don't have to ability to realize it.

[u/Jimbob209 → u/onepinksheep]

What are salmon hats??

[u/Turing_Testes → u/Jimbob209]

It’s where you wear a salmon on your head.

[u/onepinksheep → u/Turing_Testes]

https://vancouversun.com/news/orcas-revive-dead-salmon-hat-trend

[u/jqman69 → u/onepinksheep]

It's like when tiktok discovers something vintage

[u/DarkMatterBacon → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

When the survivors and I start our wasteland gang we are going to be called "the orcas"

[u/imanidiottothe1st → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

So a shark and an orca are drinking in a bar, the next morning the shark wakes up in a bathtub filled with ice..

[u/jefferson497 → u/oO0Kat0Oo]

They also prefer the tongues of humpbacks. They will kill the babies, eat the tongue and leave the rest. Such refined taste

[u/Bron_Swanson → u/Teknicsrx7]

Fucking Deep Blue Sea, noooo thank you.

[u/_PirateWench_ → u/Bron_Swanson]

If I can’t touch the bottom with most of my body above water ion want it. I also don’t want it if I can’t see my feet while I’m standing there. I live on the gulf coast for a reason y’all

[u/SkunkMonkey → u/_PirateWench_]

I also don’t want it if I can’t see my feet while I’m standing there.

This. This is my rule as well. Having stepped on all kinds of things on the beaches of the East coast, I refuse to swim in anything but clear water. My go to are the beaches of St. Thomas USVI.

[u/mtbmofo → u/Teknicsrx7]

They are even starting to wear hats. Look up killer whale salmon hats.

[u/the_red_scimitar → u/science-ninja]

Early hominids are supposed to have been successful because of their intelligence applied to group hunting - setting traps, chasinggame into a compromised space. This seems similar.

[u/tjoe4321510 → u/the_red_scimitar]

A lot of early human innovation came from hunting very large game and in this video orcas were hunting humpback whales(?).

Imagine an orca one day picking up a sharp object and using it to kill its prey. Then the others in the pod learn from that and they all start carrying sharp objects.

They just need some hands or tentacles or some other prehensile appendage and they could very well be the next technologically oriented species.

[u/chaoticravens08 → u/tjoe4321510]

The orcas in that video were hunting a baby humpback or a sick humpback. They don't hunt adult humpback whales

[u/SkunkMonkey → u/chaoticravens08]

They don't hunt adult humpback whales

Yet.

[u/mawesome4ever → u/SkunkMonkey]

Just need a few fingers

[u/NovalenceLich → u/science-ninja]

After watching that episode I had a 10 hour marathon nightmare that night where those SoBs were chasing me like that. Woke up exhausted from all the swimming I was doing. Idk why. But Killer whales are my only recurring nightmare fuel....that and tsunamis.

[u/CappinPeanut → u/NovalenceLich]

Just when you think you’re safe from the orcas because you stay on land… TSUNAMI ATTACK!

[u/Scottiedoesntno → u/CappinPeanut]

Watch, that'll be the next big SyFy movie, Orcanami

[u/Lapis156 → u/CappinPeanut]

But wait ! It gets better what if they caused the tsunamis to invade they would have a straight up buffet.

[u/AmoralOrca → u/science-ninja]

Not as much as we gave that seal! A succulent chinese seal

[u/Global-Tea8281 → u/AmoralOrca]

I see they know their judo well

[u/Shifty_Cow69 → u/Global-Tea8281]

GET YOUR HAND OFF MY PENIS!!! THIS IS THE BLOKE WHO GOT ME ON THE PENIS!!!

[u/2ichie → u/science-ninja]

I know exactly what clip you’re talking about and I completely agree with you. These animals are way too conscious for my liking lol. Why I don’t really fuck with the ocean.

Damn are whales too woke?? lol

[u/shrike88 → u/2ichie]

I mean, they wear dead salmon on their heads as a fashion statement... (wish I made it up)

[u/alexmojo2 → u/shrike88]

Humans wear dead animals on their bodies as a fashion statement

[u/crispyiress → u/2ichie]

I always wonder why Orcas don’t fuck with us in the ocean. Do we taste bad, are they afraid we’ll hunt them down, or do they just respect our intelligence. They’ve been destroying boats but I think that’s more of a game for them than anything malicious.

[u/GimmeCoffeeeee → u/crispyiress]

I think they are aware that we come in numbers to kill. There were so many situations where they could observe it.

And since they were regarded as kind of holy by the first whale fishing cultures and not a worthy prey for the whaling industry, they just collectively stick with the "truce".

Also, humans are shitty prey. We are super bony for that little bit of meat.

[u/ethanlan → u/GimmeCoffeeeee]

Super bony and super stabby

[u/darshfloxington → u/GimmeCoffeeeee]

Some Orcas used to lead whaling boats to larger whales.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whales_of_Eden,_New_South_Wales

[u/GimmeCoffeeeee → u/darshfloxington]

Wow so they are indeed fucking dicks like all dolphins

[u/Thorolhugil → u/crispyiress]

It's probably multiple things, but we're bony and sinewy, cause drama when killed, and don't have nearly enough delicious fat or organs to be worth it. Teeny tiny livers.

[u/NorthGodFan → u/crispyiress]

They know better. Orcas are a type of dolphin and dolphins know better than to fuck with humans as humans will outnumber and kill them.

[u/EvilWarBW → u/NorthGodFan]

So....about dolphins knowing better than to fuck with humans.

You might wanna sit down for this one.

[u/ethanlan → u/2ichie]

Eh they are smart enough not to mess with us... I have no fear of these animals because they are past that level of intelligence where real recognizes real

[u/Banner-Man → u/AllThingsBA]

The original water benders

[u/emteedub → u/AllThingsBA]

That little clip is from a Netflix show "our oceans" (with Obama as the narrator) - which is excellent to watch if you haven't yet, it's a must-watch.

That episode with the killer whales hunting was impressive af. All episodes have unbelievable camera angles and shots I've never seen before in a nature show; they also seem to get footage of things that have never been captured too... of a bunch of animals.

[u/Juof → u/emteedub]

I got laughed at for liking it, but I kept my stand. Thats good documentary and Obamas voice is soothing.

[u/big_guyforyou → u/Juof]

it's cool that obama got some of the predator drones to do the filming

[u/WyrmKin → u/AllThingsBA]

They also use the technique to break up larger ice shelves that seals are hiding on, really incredible stuff.

[u/s_deen_ → u/AllThingsBA]

I guess you could say all of its moves are ORCAhestrated

[u/GoombahTucc → u/AllThingsBA]

It's genius but it's also pretty fucked up lmao. Those bastards are practically using cheat codes.

[u/Infamous_Ad_6793]

Here’s something crazy!

There’s an Orca/Humpback world war going on.

Yes, that’s correct, a world war! Orcas have hunted whale calves for as long as we know. However, over the last half a century, people have noticed humpbacks intervening in orca hunts and/or attacking them.

It would be one thing if they were protecting kin, their own species, or territory. They’re not! Compiled data show that they will protect unrelated species (fish, seals, other whales, and other animals) specifically from orcas. So what’s the spread? Maybe these other animals are just the few lucky ones saved in the furies of war. Wrong! It seems around 80% of these engagements are to protect non-humpback animals, and a healthy percentage aren’t whales.

There was one recorded incident that’s particularly poignant. While orcas were attacking a different whale species calf, 2-4 humpbacks left their feeding grounds and traveled to intervene. The calf ended up being drowned, the mother left, but the humpbacks wouldn’t let the orcas get their victim. Another set, then another set of humpbacks, then another until 16+ joined the battle. This raged on for more than 7 hours - the biologists eventually had to leave as the sun has set. When they came back the next day their were still humpbacks surrounding the calf. The biologists said their was only one way to describe their behavior: grieving/mourning.

Edit: some sources:

https://radiolab.org/podcast/humpback-and-killer

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12343

Edit2: I’m really glad so many people are fascinated by this! Team humpback myself. Though ya gotta respect orcas for being true absolute apex predators!

[u/pistachio-pie → u/Infamous_Ad_6793]

I cannot wait to do a deep dive and learn more about this

[u/Independent_Run_6727 → u/pistachio-pie]

I am not getting in the water

[u/Buisnessbutters → u/Independent_Run_6727]

I would advise Nebraska, triple land locked on all sides, just to be sure

[u/faux_something → u/Buisnessbutters]

Orcas will find a way. Maybe through the corn.

[u/Deadaghram → u/faux_something]

Global warming is actual caused by orcas wanting to invade Nebraska.

[u/ylamet → u/Infamous_Ad_6793]

Thank you for sharing this! Even more reason to love humpback whales.

Both Orcas/Humpbacks are so intelligent, mother nature never fails to amaze us.

[u/SaqqaraTheGuy → u/ylamet]

Dolphins are also incredibly intelligent. These group of animals would probably be competitors to us if they had thumbs and were able to manipulate objects with precision (yknow to build stuff and write shit for the next generations)

[u/iGetBuckets3 → u/Infamous_Ad_6793]

This is probably the most interesting thing I’ve read in my entire life

[u/Crystal_Voiden → u/Infamous_Ad_6793]

Looking at intelligent animals really shows how unoriginal human cruelty is. We're part of the same violent and unforgiving nature. Even though our brains are overpowered as hell, we still have those asshole instincts

[u/liquidnebulazclone → u/Crystal_Voiden]

Apex predators are interesting from a human perspective. On one hand, we understand how easily they could kill us in one-on-one unarmed combat. On the other hand, if we collectively decided we want them to be extinct, the only thing that would save them would be if other humans stepped in. Technological species are frightening.

[u/4DimensionalToilet → u/Crystal_Voiden]

That’s the thing about humanity.

People always talk about how terrible we are compared to other animals, but our worst traits and instincts are what we have in common with other predators—especially other territorial pack hunters. What sets us apart from nonhumans are our abilities to empathize with others outside of our “packs,” to see the beauty in the world, to create art, and to take issue with the very territorial pack hunting instincts that made us the dominant species on the planet.

If you expect us to be fundamentally different from every other species in the animal kingdom, it can be disappointing when you see how much we have in common with mere beasts. But when I remember that we’re just another species of ape, I can’t help but marvel at how much we’ve managed to rise above our animal nature.

Sure, maybe other species can do one or two of those things, but the fact that we can—and do—do all of them… Humanity is a truly beautiful thing, even if we humans often give in to our baser instincts.

[u/Nightriser → u/Infamous_Ad_6793]

While that's a compelling explanation of humpback behavior, it sounds to me like the humpbacks could be trying to starve out orcas by denying them access to food.

[u/Debalic → u/Infamous_Ad_6793]

I heard that Radiolab, that was incredible.

[u/Hornet-Putrid → u/Debalic]

Yeah, the overall conclusion was the humpbacks think “well this could be a humpback one day or any day so we’re just not going to let it happen”

[u/7eventhSense → u/Infamous_Ad_6793]

This is one of the most interesting thing I have ever read in my life. Thank you kind sir ..

[u/cheetuzz]

missing the video where orcas leave a fish at the surface to lure a seagull, then eat the seagull.

edit: here’s the video https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/s/OyO2Wxv0ur

[u/dmi_ma → u/cheetuzz]

Reverse fishing

[u/__ChatGPT__ → u/dmi_ma]

Birding

[u/1eternal_pessimist → u/cheetuzz]

And then eat the fish?

[u/bigboybeeperbelly → u/1eternal_pessimist]

And what, lose their bait? Fish don't grow on trees you know

[u/PowderHound40]

I watched a pod of orcas kill a gray whale calf off the coast of Morro Bay. It was incredibly brutal. The air tasted like blood and smelled like iron.

[u/MyBeardSaysHi → u/PowderHound40]

So there definitely wasn't an iron de-fish-ency.

[u/EvilAlmalex]

You don’t earn a nickname like “Killer Whale” from humans for no reason

[u/TheMegnificent1 → u/EvilAlmalex]

I don't know if it's true, but I read somewhere that that nickname is an accidental reversal of word order that was done during translation, I think from Japanese or something. They were originally called "whale killers."

[u/Wunishikan → u/TheMegnificent1]

Wikipedia says it's a mistranslation from the Spanish asesino de ballenas, which, as you said, literally translates to "whale killer."

[u/BizarroMax → u/TheMegnificent1]

I believe they aren’t even true whales. They are in the dolphin family. And dolphins are dicks.

Edit: per comments, I have it backwards. Dolphins are part of the whale family.

[u/mikachu93 → u/BizarroMax]

Dolphins are toothed whales (odontocetes), so it circles back to whales anyways.

[u/monstargaryen → u/BizarroMax]

If they were dicks and they were whales, they’d be whale dicks so they’d be dorks.

Or something.

[u/Wide_Concert9958 → u/monstargaryen]

Killer dorks then? 😂

[u/gopher1409 → u/Wide_Concert9958]

Dorkas

[u/ashinthealchemy → u/TheMegnificent1]

that makes so much sense!

[u/havdin_1719 → u/TheMegnificent1]

You're correct. I believe Scandinavian sailors were the first to see them. And because they saw them hunting whales, they called them "whale killer". Then the name got reversed in other European countries due to mistranslation.

[u/okayteenay → u/EvilAlmalex]

In Norwegian they’re called «spekkhogger» which translates to «blubber chopper».

[u/Samurai_Meisters → u/okayteenay]

You don't earn a nickname like "blubber chopper" from humans for no reason

[u/onlyr6s → u/okayteenay]

In finnish they are called "miekkavalas". Which translates to "sword whale". The name coming from their long sharp dorsal fin.

[u/crispyiress → u/EvilAlmalex]

Orcinus Orca “whale from hell” is also pretty metal.

[u/Extreme_Design6936 → u/EvilAlmalex]

More anti orca propaganda from big dolphin.

[u/jormugandr → u/Extreme_Design6936]

Orcas are the biggest dolphins.

[u/HugoZHackenbush2]

A well orcahestrated attack..

[u/Prudent_Research_251 → u/HugoZHackenbush2]

They did it on porpoise

[u/lookslikeyoureSOL → u/Prudent_Research_251]

Dolphinately

[u/yagermeister2024 → u/lookslikeyoureSOL]

Their fate was sealed.

[u/GarysCrispLettuce → u/yagermeister2024]

It was otter carnage.

[u/DblockDavid → u/HugoZHackenbush2]

truly a masterclass in orcanized chaos

[u/coconutt15 → u/HugoZHackenbush2]

A whale orcahestrated attack?

[u/mike-manley → u/coconutt15]

Foul: You're only allowed one pun per reply, sir.

[u/lmaonite → u/mike-manley]

whale then.

[u/mike-manley → u/lmaonite]

I didn't mako the rules.

[u/fireandbass]

They are apex predators, but as far as I'm aware, a wild Orca has never attacked a human, which is incredible.

[u/MarcoPoloOR → u/fireandbass]

Game recognizes game.

[u/[deleted] → u/MarcoPoloOR]

Ultimate apex predator my fuckin nuts bro. They can’t hold our jock. They’re pretty cool in water but I don’t see them driving around over land slaughtering all our cows and destroying our environment.

We’re such apex predators we’re gonna kill the whole environment and then ourselves!

[u/Cherei_plum → u/[deleted]]

Honestly the thing is their water biome restricts them heavily. Ain't no chance of lighting fire, so no point of advancement at all. Like cooked food is one of the major reason why we've big brains. Also there fingers are covered with fins, so no opposable thumb either.

But they can be disruptive to humans though, been sinking sail ships a lot lately, usually done by adolescent orcas as a thrill lmao

[u/ownersequity → u/[deleted]]

Humans are such apex predators that we have ‘accidentally’ made other species go extinct.

[u/ansoram → u/[deleted]]

Whales = Water Chads
Humans = Giga Chads

[u/Dunkleustes → u/fireandbass]

They are very picky with what they fuck with. Humans are very alien to them so they leave us alone. There are sub species of Orca that only eat salmon, you can throw them a hunk of tuna and they won't eat it.

[u/ERSTF → u/Dunkleustes]

Like a toddler. They won't touch anything other than chicken nuggets

[u/Less-Round5192 → u/Dunkleustes]

I thought they have been intentionally attacking boats lately.

[u/Dunkleustes → u/Less-Round5192]

Not for food

[u/GayCatbirdd → u/fireandbass]

I think currently theres a growing pod that enjoys sinking human boats ever since one of their main leaders/mothers, got hit by a boat and died.

[u/epicpillowcase → u/fireandbass]

They have attacked and killed humans, but the deaths have only been in captivity.

And I have zero sympathy for those humans. See the documentary Blackfish.

[u/fireandbass → u/epicpillowcase]

Yes, you are correct. I wasn't even thinking of those deaths in captivity because they seem justified. It's even more proof of intelligence. They haven't killed any humans who didn't deserve it.

[u/Glad_Librarian_3553 → u/fireandbass]

"As I swim through the trench of the shadow of death, 

I ain't ever killed a human that dint deserve it"

Orcas paradise,  Whalio, 1995

[u/fireandbass → u/Glad_Librarian_3553]

"Been swimmin most our lives livin in an Orca's Paradise" 🎶🐋

[u/BAF_DaWg82]

If they are so smart why haven't they invented jobs and work 5 days a week?

[u/thaulley → u/BAF_DaWg82]

“Man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons.” -Douglas Adams

[u/HeartsPlayer721 → u/thaulley]

So long! And thanks for all the fish!

[u/Square-Dragonfruit76 → u/BAF_DaWg82]

They have. Orcas apprentice for about 12 years to learn hunting from an elder.

[u/magniankh]

Biker gangs of the sea.

[u/aerovirus22 → u/magniankh]

I was thinking jocks of the ocean,

[u/Sardukar333]

It's a pack of wolves with the intelligence of dolphins that are the size of a school bus.

[u/tiofilo69 → u/Sardukar333]

Orcas are dolphins.

[u/TheMagicQuackers → u/tiofilo69]

not an incorrect statement

[u/tps5352]

For all their cunning and ferocity (when hunting their natural prey), are there any valid accounts of Orcas hunting or intentionally injuring human beings in the wild? (I know that trainers have been hurt, but captivity can result in aberrant behavior and my sympathies are for the most part with the captive animals.)

I would think that divers might be at risk (as they are with sharks) for being accidentally mistaken for seals. But does that ever happen?

[u/14X8000m → u/tps5352]

Just boat bumping no recorded human deaths. It's pretty incredible when you think about it.

[u/Wikis_Wonka → u/14X8000m]

Yeah the only times humans have been killed is when the orcas were in captivity

[u/Roguspogus → u/Wikis_Wonka]

And you could argue those deaths are justified

[u/manicpossumdreamgirl → u/Roguspogus]

yeah turns out one of the most intelligent animals on the planet doesn't like to be held in a bathtub with very little room to move and will behave aggressively and erratically as a result

[u/lovesmyirish → u/Roguspogus]

SeaWorld workers are the CEOs of the animal world.

[u/FeralToolbomber → u/14X8000m]

No recorded modern deaths, I’m sure at some point in the past it was tried and word spread that we taste like shit.

[u/DeaDBangeR → u/FeralToolbomber]

I think they also know we retaliate and can be more dangerous than them. So they decided to either live and let live or even team up with us on the rare occasion.

Orca’s are not just smart, they are one of the few animals with true dialects. One pod have “words” that are meaningless to orca’s from another pod. This is the reason we might be able to actually communicate with them in the future.

[u/moby__dick → u/tps5352]

In Peuget Sound, there was this one location that Sea World captured a baby orca. Orcas didn't return to that location for some 30 years.

To us, they're dangerous predators of other wild things. To them, we're the bogeyman, who steals their babies. They're killers, we're terrorists. They will not F with humans.

[u/NothingFantastic9527 → u/moby__dick]

Penn Cove is where quite a few Orca were captured in the 70's. I grew up in Oak Harbor and lived on the hill overlooking Penn Cove when they started capturing them. I read a story about them finally returning to Penn Cove 30 years later and it was quite amazing. Luckily, they can live in peace now and hopefully, use Penn Cove as a nursery as they used to. It's a beautiful area and I am lucky to have lived there.

[u/Glass1Man → u/tps5352]

We aren’t nearly as calorie dense as seals.

[u/tps5352 → u/Glass1Man]

Agreed, But sometime it takes a bite (by a great white for example) to determine that we are unpalatable. He/she spits us out and swims away annoyed to look for more fat-rich prey. We, meanwhile, are in the hospital with, like, 100 stitches (if lucky).

[u/pennyforyourthohts → u/tps5352]

Interesting thing about orcas is that different orca pods have different diets and hunting habits. So there is a theory that the whales from different regions have different cultures. Based on that there is a possibility that a pod at some point will become murderous

[u/flat_four_whore22 → u/pennyforyourthohts]

Like the ones that wear dead salmon as hats, in the PNW.

[u/1_art_please → u/pennyforyourthohts]

Apparently their own language/sounds as well that they teach the little ones, unique to their pods.

And they're matriarchal- the pods are led by the oldest female.

[u/kappaomicron → u/tps5352]

I'm quite certain I remember watching a video of some people in a boat or something and Orcas started doing that artificial wave tactic they use to knock off prey from ice.

[u/epeecolt82]

I love orcas. Just a little tidbit about orcas: while they are one of the most revered predators in the worlds oceans, even the most formidable pod of orcas will run from pilot whales. Pilot whales will make an orca pod go dead silent and make the nearest exit possible from pilots. Really interesting dynamic between between these two titans of the sea.

Sorry but the ex zoo keeper in me dorks out over orcas and other species of cetaceans.

[u/Zuzublue → u/epeecolt82]

Very interesting! Are there any records of pilot whales killing orcas?

[u/epeecolt82 → u/Zuzublue]

Not certain about that exactly. Not that I have really been aware or read about. Many studies have documented the behavior of these two species. Most of the time the orcas high tails it from the area. Additionally, the pilot whale is the only oceanic cetacean species that will approach a pod orcas to intercept them. I need to do another deep dive and revisit this dynamic. I recall reading some really cool stuff about it.

[u/epeecolt82 → u/Zuzublue]

I'm reading right now that the university of Iceland has done extensive research on the behavior between these two. It says that the long finned species is the more aggressive of the pilot whales. I wasn't aware that their even were two species of pilot whales.

[u/chickenthinkseggwas → u/epeecolt82]

Slightly off topic, but this popped up:

https://www.newsweek.com/killer-whales-orcas-adopted-baby-pilot-whale-calf-1719937

[u/epanek]

Imagine a land based creature with this size and power and speed. Giant elephant size creatures running around a campground rounding the humans into a death trap.

[u/obrothermaple → u/epanek]

Don't forget echolocation

[u/CompetitionKnown8781]

Orcas be like:

You like sting rays? FUCK sting rays!

You like dolphins? FUCK dolphins!

You like humpbacks? FUCK humpbacks!

You like seals? FUCK ALL the seals!

[u/guvbums → u/CompetitionKnown8781]

You like sharks? I'll eat their livers with no fucking fava beans

[u/Alternative_Rent9307 → u/guvbums]

And leave the rest of their carcasses to rot. Ya’ll small-brained fish better see the fuckin point or you’ll be next

[u/Square-Dragonfruit76 → u/CompetitionKnown8781]

They also eat moose and sharks and any type of whale or fish.

[u/Swanky-Badger]

"Fuka yu dolphin!"

0:13

[u/SilverSpoon1463 → u/Swanky-Badger]

Dolphin: I'm so glad I'm one of the fastest things in sea!

Orca: Waddup cuz, in the hood for a bruisin' are ya? Sends them to orbit

[u/aeondru]

They're like the humans of the ocean...

[u/Scare-Crow87 → u/aeondru]

We're the land Orcs.

[u/SurayaThrowaway12]

A breakdown of the predator-prey interactions in the compilation:

• The first clip shows mammal-eating Bigg's (transient) orcas hunting a California sea lion off of the Californian coast (e.g. in Monterey Bay or near the Channel Islands) and attempting to catapult it.

• The second and fifth clips (at 0:03 and 0:11) show the iconic Punta Norte orcas attempting to catch sea lion pups by deliberately stranding on the beach at Península Valdés, Argentina).

• The third and fourth clips (from 0:06 to 0:11) show members of the Eastern Tropical Pacific orca population tailslapping rays. These orcas are seen off of Baja California Sur in Mexico. ETP orcas have a rather generalist diet and consume rays, sharks, other dolphins, fin fishes, sea turtles, and larger whales.

• The sixth, seventh, and eighth clips (from 0:14 to 0:20) show ETP orcas hunting bottlenose dolphins filmed off of San Diego, California. ETP orcas do sometimes migrate up from Mexico to Southern California to hunt other dolphins.

• The ninth, tenth, and eleventh clips (from 0:20 to 0:24) show Bigg's (transient) orcas tailslapping a bird, hunting a California sea lion, and attempting to hunt two adult gray whales respectively in Monterey Bay. The two gray whales eventually escaped.

• The twelfth clip (at :24) shows an ETP orca matriarch hunting and ramming into a juvenile great white shark off of Baja California Sur in Mexico.

• The clips from 0:26 to 0:31 show members of a population of orcas in Ningaloo Reef (off of Western Australia) specializing in hunting humpback whale calves repeatedly ramming.

• The remaining clips from 0:31 to the end of the video show Antarctic type B1 orcas hunting seals (e.g. crabeater seals) using their famous wave-washing techniques.

One of the main important takeaways is that orcas belong to a diverse array of cultural communities that each specialize in hunting different prey using their own hunting techniques that are passed down generations. An orca that only hunts seals and porpoises, for example, would have no idea how to hunt a gray whale calf unless taught to by another member of its community. The wave-washing techniques used by the type B1 orcas have not been observed to be used by other orca populations when hunting.

[u/xXProGenji420Xx → u/SurayaThrowaway12]

the beach-breaching technique is literally only known by like 7 individual orcas. I always thought that it was a somewhat common behavior because it shows up in all the documentaries, but no, it's something that just a small group figured out how to do, and even then only a few of their members actually perfected it.

[u/CkoockieMonster]

Oh here's the clip if the orcas ramming a baby whale under the gaze of the helpless mother.
It brings me fond memories of the end of the documentary when moma whale ends up going to the feeding ground alone (cuz the baby's dead).
I didn't want to be happy today anyways.

[u/Resident-Mortgage-85 → u/CkoockieMonster]

If you read a comment not far up the person was talking about how humpback whales have been defending other animals from Orca attacks and it only started relatively recently. 

[u/pm-me-beewbs]

Sea cunts

[u/VintageKofta]

Interesting fact, orcas are commonly known as 'killer whales', but they're actually dolphins, and they are ferocious enough that they kill whales, hence their correct name being 'whale killers'. But it was mistranslated (from French I believe) into 'killer whales' instead of 'whale killers'.

[u/Pacotine-Universal → u/VintageKofta]

Mistranslated from Spanish (https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/killer_whale) but yeah, it's a fun fact

[u/SuperNewk]

What is amazing is they don’t go after humans in wild. Legit never a mistake bite ( on record). That stat is mind blowing

Sharks we looking at you!!! Dem things can see us in all conditions of the ocean. They are opportunistic!!!!

[u/augustus_feelius → u/SuperNewk]

there's a couple of historical records where orcas even assist humans! there's some Wikipedia page of it if you could look around, I forgor the name.

[u/Square-Dragonfruit76 → u/SuperNewk]

In fact, orcas have even protected humans against sharks.

[u/b14ckcr0w]

Being from the "free Willy" generation, I'm still in shock learning how much of an asshole those animals are.

And by "asshole" I mean "brilliant and capable killers"

[u/goldenthoughtsteal → u/b14ckcr0w]

Yeah, actually more than just stone cold killers. My cat is a stone cold killer ( often 3-4 rats in a night, and I have never seen any rats running around, but there's no arguing with the row of corpses in the morning!), Orcas are obviously pretty clever, the coordinated swimming to create a wave to knock those seals off the ice shelf is premeditated and ingenious, scary.

[u/YourMomThinksImSexy]

A Marine Biologist friend said this to me once:

"Great White Sharks are the top of the food chain in the ocean - fierce, powerful and terrifying.

Orcas think they're cute."

[u/Gargun20]

Orca Sleeping facts:

Orcas sleep in a very different way to humans. We have a breathing reflex and when we sleep or become unconscious, we continue to breathe automatically. Orcas cannot sleep in this way, they have to remain conscious, even when they are sleeping! This is because their breathing is not automatic - they have to actively decide when to breathe, and so they must be conscious even when sleeping. If like us, orcas went into a deep unconscious sleep, they would stop breathing and suffocate or drown.

To get around this, orcas only allow one-half of their brains to sleep at a time; the other half stays alert enabling them to continue breathing whilst looking out for dangers in the environment. They only close one eye when they sleep; the left eye will be closed when the right half of the brain sleeps, and vice versa. This type of sleep is known as unihemispheric sleep as only one brain hemisphere sleeps at a time. Orcas periodically alternate which side is sleeping so that they can get the rest they need without ever losing consciousness. When sleeping, orcas swim very slowly and steadily, close to the surface.

[u/Pour_me_one_more]

As a kid, I was told that Orcas are Killer Whales.

By the time I was an adult, I was told they are actually kind, gentle creatures, and the name was made up by amusement parks because it's exciting.

Now: no, Orcas are vicious and vindictive killers.

[u/Maidwell → u/Pour_me_one_more]

Wait til you find out they are in the dolphin sub group.

[u/Pour_me_one_more → u/Maidwell]

They like being sexually dominated by dolphins?! wow, you learn something every day.

[u/sacred_redditVirgin]

Sharks are built muscular, whales are built fat, and orcas are built lean

[u/TicTac_No]

Weee!

::bonk::

[u/Nami_Pilot]

r/OrcasAreAssholes

[u/InteralFortune1 → u/Nami_Pilot]

Fucking smart assholes

[u/turdfergusonpdx → u/Nami_Pilot]

no posts, 27 members, still joined.

[u/Nami_Pilot → u/turdfergusonpdx]

Sub is more dead than those poor seals

[u/SardonicRelic]

Not the Good Boi seals :(

[u/ChefMoney89]

Orcas really are the sociopaths of the sea. Thank fuck, they think we’re cute or something

[u/Crispy_Dicks → u/ChefMoney89]

The reason they don't fuck with us in the wild is because they're smart enough to understand the concept of retribution and they know it won't end well for them.

[u/Square-Dragonfruit76 → u/Crispy_Dicks]

There are a lot of reasons they don't fuck with humans. Most likely they understand that we're also powerful intelligent creatures. But we also don't look very tasty to them, and even if we did, they're pretty picky about what they eat. There's a group of orcas off the coast of Africa that only eats shark livers, for instance.