Underwater video: "Watch Rare Footage of the Mysterious 'Type D' Orca"

[Judi Lynn]

Mar 8 2019, 11:34am
Watch Rare Footage of the Mysterious 'Type D' Orca
A NOAA expedition filmed the orcas, which have distinctive small white eye patches, off of Cape Horn, Chile.

An expedition of scientists has recorded a mysterious family of orcas, known only through rumors and a few rare sightings.

The scientists spotted the elusive "Type D" orcas off of Cape Horn, Chile, in January.

The orcas may be “the largest undescribed animal left on the planet,” said expedition lead Bob Pitman, a researcher from NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center, in a statement.

Type D orcas are easily distinguished from other killer whales by their much smaller white eye patches. They also have more rounded heads and pointier dorsal fins compared to Type A, B, and C orcas.

More:
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/j57nmx/watch-rare-footage-of-the-mysterious-type-d-orca-noaa

(Also posted in Science.)

[catbyte]

1. Fascinating! Thanks for posting, Judi Lynn,

[Judi Lynn]

2. I keep forgetting they are actually very large porpoises! Doesn't seem possible.

There are so many amazing living miracles around us. Hope someone can make the important breakthroughs we need to develope respect for them before they are all destroyed.

Thanks for checking them out.