Killer whales are some of the most cosmopolitan creatures on the planet, swimming through every one of the world’s oceans.
Although their habitats and habits vary widely, all killer whales are considered part of a single, global species: Orcinus orca.
(Despite their common name, killer whales are actually part of a family of marine mammals known as oceanic dolphins.)
In a paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science on Tuesday, the scientists proposed giving new species designations to two groups of animals, one known as resident killer whales and the other often called Bigg’s killer whales.
Although both types live in the eastern North Pacific, they have different diets: the resident orcas eat fish, with a particular predilection for salmon, while the Bigg’s orcas hunt marine mammals such as seals and sea lions.
Organizations:
Royal Society, Science
Locations:
Africa, Hawaii, Coast, United States, Canada, North Pacific