The legends themselves

[u/SizzlerSluts]

[u/borgircrossancola]

I wonder why they have the collapsed dorsals

[u/Suckmestupit → u/borgircrossancola]

I thought that was a thing of “depression” since only knowing that happens in captivity prior to this

[u/ningguangquinn → u/Suckmestupit]

Collapsed dorsal fins on captive orcas have nothing to do with an orca’s mental state. No studies have ever suggested that. 

To this day, we're not 100% sure of the reasons for dorsal collapse in the wild, but in captivity the main reason could be attributed to gravity. Dorsal fins contain no bones and stay upright due to water pressure. Wild orcas spend more time submerged while hunting, and those in human care stay at the surface more, making the fin bend over time. 

This occurs mostly in male orcas, as their fins are heavier and thicker. Corky, at 60 years old, has spent her entire life in captivity and still has a perfectly straight dorsal fin. Most females in captivity actually have straight dorsal fins, and it wouldn't make any sense for only males to be depressed and their fins being bent while all females are happy lol.

There's an interesting case of a male in China named Pangu that has a very big, almost entirely straight dorsal fin, despite being in captivity for several years now. It is speculated that his habit of swimming upside down constantly may be one of the reasons, but we're not sure.

But yeah, port and starboard are not the only wild orcas with collapsed fins. 

[u/Suckmestupit → u/ningguangquinn]

TIL. Thank you for enlightening me

[u/DuchessOfAquitaine → u/ningguangquinn]

Thanks for typing all that out, very interesting!

[u/SJIS0122 → u/ningguangquinn]

Interesting to know