Cetaceans of Australia - Killer Whale, Blue Whale, Humpback Whale, Fin Whale, Minke Whale, Sperm Whale, SEI Whale, Dusky Dolphin, Bryde's Whale (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 78. Chapters: Killer whale, Blue whale, Humpback whale, Fin whale, Minke whale, Sperm whale, Sei whale, Dusky dolphin, Bryde's whale, Southern right whale, Common bottlenose dolphin, Common dolphin, Balaenoptera brydei, Spinner dolphin, Tropical bottlenose whale, Giant beaked whale, Hector's beaked whale, Striped dolphin, Pantropical spotted dolphin, Pygmy right whale, Common minke whale, Risso's dolphin, Australian snubfin dolphin, False killer whale, Melon-headed whale, Southern right whale dolphin, Pygmy sperm whale, Blainville's beaked whale, Antarctic minke whale, Pygmy killer whale, Hourglass dolphin, Cuvier's beaked whale, Short-finned pilot whale, Killer whales of Eden, Australia, Long-finned pilot whale, Fraser's dolphin, Dwarf sperm whale, Gray's beaked whale, True's beaked whale, Rough-toothed dolphin, Strap-toothed whale, Spectacled porpoise, Andrew's beaked whale, Shepherd's beaked whale. Excerpt: The killer whale (Orcinus orca), commonly referred to as the orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. Killer whales as a species have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as sea lions, seals, walruses and even large whales. Killer whales are regarded as apex predators, lacking natural predators and preying on even large sharks. Killer whales are highly social; some populations are composed of matrilineal family groups which are the most stable of any animal species. Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviors, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been described as manifestations o...