Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genius and Species | Fun Facts | Work Cited
Kingdom: Animalia
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Multicellular |
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Heterotroph |
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No cell walls |
Phylum: Chordata
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Bilateral symmetry |
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Segmented body |
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three germ layers |
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well-developed coelom |
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single dorsal |
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hollow nerve cord |
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tail projecting behind the anus |
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ventral heart |
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complete digestive system |
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bony or cartilaginous endoskeleton |
Class: Mammalia
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3 middle ear bones |
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hair |
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mammary glands |
Order: Cetacean
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live in water |
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have fusiform (stream); ned body shape |
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paddle shaped front limbs |
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restigial hind limbs |
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thick layer of blubber |
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external nares (blowholes) |
Family: Delphinidae
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small tomeclium sized |
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forehead bulges over beak |
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dorsal fins |
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color spots over body |
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males are usually larger than females |
Genius and Species: Orcinus Orcas
Interestingly the Killer Whale may live underwater, but it needs to be near the surface. The Killer Whale is from the phylum Chordata and is a vertebrate. There are many factors that play roles in the Killer Whale's survival.
The Killer Whale has many physical characteristics that help it to survive in
the ocean. For example, one characteristic of the Killer Whale is that they contain
10 to 12 pairs of 3in. teeth. This shows that overtime they have developed these
teeth to hunt their prey. In addition, they also have stocky bodies and round
heads. This characteristic gives them an advantage when they are swimming, by
allowing their body to be more aero-dynamic. Another example, is that they grow to
be 27 to 33 feet long. This helps them to scare off other predators. These
three
characteristics are vital to the Killer Whale's survival.
The Killer Whale's habitat plays an important role in its life. For example, Killer Whale's need a clean habitat, which is free of pollution. This shows that if their habitat is polluted they will not be as healthy, and their prey will be toxic. In addition, their habitat needs to have a good source of food and prey. This shows that they are predators. Another example, is that they need to be near the surface of the water. This is need for them to breathe, because they cannot breathe underwater. The Killer Whale's habitat must include these three characteristics in order for the Killer Whale's survival.
The killer whale's characteristics are what allow it to live in the habitats that they live in. The Killer Whale can live in many different climates of water in many different places. This is the reason why it is one of the most dominating predators alive.
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While resting, killer whales may swim slowly or make a series of 3 to 7 short dives of less than a minute before making a long dive for up to three minutes. |
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Killer whales in the Johnstone Strait in British Columbia often engage in beach rubbing -- they rub their bodies along the pebbly bottoms of shallow bays. |
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Killer
whales produce clicks and sounds that resemble moans, trills, grunts,
whistles, squeaks, and creaking doors. They make these sounds at any
time and at all depths. The sounds vary in volume, wavelength, and
pattern.
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Killer Whales swim fast Throughout the deep blue ocean What a stunning sight |
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Suzanne Sessine. Orcinus orca. May 2000. The University of Michigan - Museum of Zoology. April 16, 2003 <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/orcinus/o._orca$narrative.html>
Orca. 2003. EnchantedLearning.com. April 16,2003 <http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Orca.shtml>
Killer Whales. 2002. Busch
Entertainment Corporation. 30 Apr. 2003 <http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/KillerWhale/home.html>.
