Orca Hunting Techniques and Behavior

Orcas are highly intelligent predators with diverse hunting techniques. They have a large brain-to-body ratio and pass down hunting skills across generations. Different ecotypes of orcas have unique prey preferences and methods, such as creating waves to knock seals off ice floes, beaching to catch seals on shore, suffocating large whales, and using carousel feeding to trap fish. Some orcas even hunt sharks, targeting their nutrient-rich livers. Despite their nickname 'killer whale,' much about orcas remains unknown, including the number of distinct populations.

What characteristic of orcas is highlighted by their large brain-to-body size ratio?

• Their ability to swim fast

• Their ability to camouflage

• Their intelligence and cognitive abilities

• Their size and strength

How do Type B1 Antarctic orcas manage to knock seals off ice floes?

• By jumping onto the ice

• By creating waves with their tails

• By waiting for the ice to melt

• By using their heads to push the ice

What is a unique aspect of the beaching technique used by orcas?

• It is only used in the Arctic

• It is used to catch fish

• It involves orcas jumping over waves

• It is a learned behavior taught by mothers

Why are juvenile seals more likely to be caught by orcas using the beaching technique?

• They are more delicious

• They are less aware of their surroundings

• They are slower swimmers

• They are easier to spot

What is the primary method orcas use to hunt large whales?

• By biting their tails

• By trapping them in nets

• By suffocating them

• By chasing them to exhaustion

What is carousel feeding?

• A technique where orcas jump in circles

• A method of trapping fish in a whirlpool

• A way to catch seals on ice

• A strategy to hunt large whales

Which type of orcas is known for using carousel feeding?

• Type 1 North Atlantic orcas

• South American orcas

• New Zealand orcas

• Type B1 Antarctic orcas

What unique technique do New Zealand orcas use to hunt sharks?

• They trap sharks in nets

• They use a karate chop with their tails

• They use their teeth to bite

• They create a vortex to lift sharks

Why might some orcas only eat the liver of sharks?

• The liver is the tastiest part

• The liver is the largest part

• The liver is nutrient-rich

• The liver is the easiest part to catch

What does the global presence of shark-eating orcas suggest?

• Orcas prefer sharks over other prey

• There is still much to learn about orca behavior

• Orcas are only found in New Zealand

• Orcas are the only predators of sharks