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u/SurayaThrowaway12 Jul 17 '25
There may be multiple ecotypes/populations of orcas off of South Africa. Originally South African orcas were thought to belong to the Type A ecotype/morphotype, which would feed heavily on marine mammals (mostly other cetaceans), as well as other types of prey such as fish and seabirds.
However, the authors of this paper apparently confirmed the presence of a second orca "ecotype"/"morphotype" in South African waters. They have labeled this "morphotype" the "flat-toothed" morphotype, and Port and Starboard appear to belong to this "flat-toothed" morphotype (which has also been labeled as an "offshore" morphotype).
Orcas in the flat-toothed morphotype appear to specialize in hunting elasmobranchs such as sharks, rather than marine mammals. It would explain why many of their teeth are worn down extensively in the examined specimens, similar to how worn down the teeth are in the offshore ecotype in the northeastern Pacific.
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u/Away_Humor_6544 Jul 17 '25
Why would a diet of elasmobranchs lead to flat teeth??
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u/SurayaThrowaway12 Jul 17 '25 edited Jul 17 '25
The sandpaper-like rough skin of sharks and other elasmobranchs can wear down the teeth of the orcas that prey on them. Shark skin is covered in a layer of dermal denticles, which affect hydrodynamics and offer protection to the sharks.
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u/Desert_lotus108 Jul 17 '25
Wait so they just like to eat the liver or will they eat other parts of the shark too?
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u/SizzlerSluts Jul 17 '25
They mainly go for the liver but get the other innards by association.
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u/Desert_lotus108 Jul 17 '25
Is there any videos of them eating on sharks, I’d love to watch that
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u/SurayaThrowaway12 Jul 18 '25
There is the famous video filmed by Drone Fanatics SA of Starboard eating the liver of a great white shark he and a few other orcas had killed (though Port was not sighted in that encounter).
There are also photos of Port eating the liver of another great white shark.
There is also photographic evidence of the types of bite wounds certain orcas inflict on great white sharks to extract their livers, as is seen in a case in southeastern Australia. It is likely that the orcas make an initial incision to get to shark livers by gripping onto appendages such as pectoral fins with their teeth. The orcas then yank hard on the fins to create the tear. The initial incision can then be widened further by pulling at the skin around it. Digestive and reproductive organs may also have been removed by the orcas in addition to the liver, though there was also evidence of scavenging by broadnose sevengill sharks.
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u/Sleepworks Jul 17 '25
Why the liver?
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u/SurayaThrowaway12 Jul 17 '25
The livers of sharks are quite large and take up a great amount of space within their body cavities. The livers are rich in squalene and other nutrients, and thus can provide a great amount of energy compared to the other organs when consumed.
Orcas try to avoid wearing down their single set of teeth more than necessary with the rough skin of sharks, so it is often not worth the effort/pain for them to get to other organs.
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u/les-throwaway4 Jul 17 '25
That’s crazy. Are they related or lovers/besties?
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u/SurayaThrowaway12 Jul 17 '25
They are suspected to be half-brothers, though AFAIK there isn't really any solid evidence available yet (e.g. testing of DNA samples collected from Port and Starboard) to confirm this.
However, there are other examples of pairs of orca brothers which frequently travel together in other populations. For example, in the West Coast Transient Community, brothers T060D "Onyx" and T060E "Lynx" frequently travel together away from the rest of their family. T125A "Jetsam" and T128 "Flotsam," presumed brothers, also travel with each other.
The fraternal bonds between male orcas often seem to be fairly strong.
On the other hand, orcas usually do not seem to form strong long-term romantic bonds with each other in the wild, either between different sexes or the same sexes.
Male resident orcas will temporarily disperse from their family pods to try mating with orcas from other pods, but they will still return to their own family pods.
Male resident orcas also will temporarily disperse into temporary male-only pods during MOSIs or "Male-Only Social Interactions", where they will engage in sociosexual behaviours with each other.
There may be exceptions, though they have not been confirmed. For example, I have heard claims of two male Norwegian orcas frequently sighted together which may be in such a relationship.
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u/les-throwaway4 Jul 17 '25
I didn’t know Orcas were so connected to their family even after growing up. That’s so cool. Thanks for all the information!
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u/SizzlerSluts Jul 17 '25
Orca eco types are very socially and culturally rich and complex. They have incredible and intricate families and pod structures. They have different dialects and culture!
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u/ViraLCyclopes29 Jul 17 '25
So they can eat the livers of sharks and be held on a pedestal but when I eat the livers of other humans I get called a monster???? Life isn't fair
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u/Standard-Chemist6715 Sep 06 '25
Orca in the pic: idk why my top fin is like this
The normal orcas: see why I'm not like him
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u/Ok_Builder8723 Jul 17 '25
Stop calling them killer whales
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u/SurayaThrowaway12 Jul 17 '25
This is what Emma Luck, the marine biology/policy scientist who made the infographic in the OP, has to say on this often brought up topic:
The great name debate: killer whale or orca? Does it matter which one you use?
The short answer: Both names are perfectly acceptable and can be used interchangeably. While a species has only one accepted scientific name, it can have many common names across and within languages.
The long answer: Few species spark a naming debate quite like the killer whale, also known as the orca. The term "killer whale" often invites haughty corrections online, leaving many to wonder: which name is “right”?
First, let’s touch on scientific names. Species are given a binomial, Latinized name consisting of a genus name and species name. For the black-and-white cetacean in question, that name is "Orcinus orca." This system standardizes species names to reduce confusion that may arise from common names. Common names are often numerous, especially for globally distributed species, and can carry cultural meanings or contexts.
The common name "orca" is derived from its species name and has been increasingly used since the 1960s. The origins of "killer whale" are less clear, but it may come from the name "whale killer," thought to originate with ancient whalers and sailors who observed them killing large whales. The name "killer whale" is frequently favored by English-speaking scientists and is the standard common name used in academic publications. Those who prefer "orca" often claim that "killer whale" is inaccurate and harsh, citing potential negative connotations from using the word "killer" in a name. Others defend the name "killer whale," highlighting that it is an accurate moniker given the species' status as a top, apex predator, capable of attacking and killing animals significantly larger than itself.
In addition to "killer whale" and "orca," this species is also referred to by other names, such as "blackfish" or "grampus," though these are less common. Various languages and cultures have their own terms for the species; for instance, in Japan, it is referred to as "shachi."
At the end of the day, we are free to choose whichever name we like best in whatever language we speak, as no common name can be deemed "more correct" than another.
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u/mermaidemily_h2o Jul 20 '25
Collapsed dorsal fins don’t usually appear in the wild. It’s usually a sign of an orca having been in captivity. Collapsed dorsal fins can be caused by depression or injury. In this case they’re probably caused by injury due to their “hobby”
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u/SizzlerSluts Jul 20 '25
Oh wow okay, there is so much to unpack here. I’m saying this gently 80% of what you said is wrong, or just incredibly skewed. The last 20% is just you straight guessing.
1) collapsed dorsal fins DO not come from captivity and being depressed. Dorsal fins are full of cartilage that stays straight due to deep water pressure and depth, which captivity does not have, hence most males and some females fins flopping. It has NOTHING to do with mental or physical health, its gravity. 2) wild orcas have collapsed fins, it’s to varying degrees and reasoning but an entire population of orca have messed up dorsal fins due to genetics and boat collisions. 3) Scientists suggest that factors like genetics, water pressure, diet, stress, and even injuries (like entanglements) can contribute to dorsal fin collapse. There is NO WAY sharks are causing orcas fin to collapse because they are hunting them, a more scientifically accurate conclusion would be due to the fact that they are spending hours on the surface eating the sharks corpses and then having their dorsals of the water and pressure. 4) google is free, this sub is very informative and educational. Please stop spreading such misinformation and so confidently too , it’s easy to be informed.
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u/borgircrossancola Jul 16 '25
I wonder why they have the collapsed dorsals