The global diversity of wild orca ecotypes

The story of SeaWorld

Chapter 1

The splashy beginnings of marine parks

Chapter 2

The biology and behavior of killer whales

Chapter 3

The Blackfish effect and the great pivot

Chapter 4

Beyond the shows: Rescue and rehabilitation

YOUR GOAL

Master of The story of SeaWorld

Ch 2 · The biology and behavior of killer whales

gus Echolocation and how orcas see with sound

gus The mystery of the bent dorsal fin

Echolocation and how orcas see with sound

gus Orcas navigate and hunt in dark waters using a highly sophisticated biological sonar system.

The mystery of the bent dorsal fin

gus While wild male orcas have tall, straight dorsal fins, captive males almost always experience fin collapse.

Orca

BETA

gus Match orcas to their unique pods to discover their distinct family cultures.

Fun Fact

Orca sleep: Orcas sleep with only half of their brain at a time so they don't drown.

Glossary

orca (noun)
A large, black-and-white predatory marine mammal of the dolphin family found in all oceans. In September 1985, SeaWorld Orlando celebrated the birth of Kalina, the first successfully bred orca.

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Gossip

Which orca superpower is the coolest?

Quiz

How do killer whales breathe while they are sleeping?

gus The complex social lives of wild orcas

Quiz

Who typically leads a wild killer whale pod?

gus The global diversity of wild orca ecotypes

Quiz

What is the name of the fatty organ in an orca's forehead used to focus echolocation sounds?

Quiz

What is the primary food source of North Pacific Resident killer whales?

Quiz

What is the scientific name for the killer whale?

Quiz

To which animal family do killer whales actually belong?

Quiz

What percentage of adult male killer whales in captivity experience dorsal fin collapse?

Quiz

Which wild orca ecotype is known primarily for hunting marine mammals rather than fish?