Orcas splitting into 2 species?

[n2doc]

By Michael Reilly | Thu Jan 7, 2010 01:54 PM ET
Killer Whales in the in the North Atlantic Ocean come in two different flavors, and could be in the process of splitting into two species, according to new research by a team of European scientists.

Orcas in different regions like the Pacific and Antarctic are known to have different diets, but are recognized as belonging to the same species, Orcinus orca. Researchers have now found that two populations living in the waters around Britain differ not only in what they eat, but also in size and genetic makeup.

According an article today on the BBC website, researchers showed that "type 1" whales had significantly more tooth wear than than "type 2" whales, which also tended to be two meters (6.6 feet) longer.

The patterns of tooth wear suggest that type 1 whales are generalists, feeding on a combination of seals and fish. On the other hand, type 2 whales eat only marine mammals like dolphins and other small whales.

A genetic analysis showed that type 2 whales, which tend to show up off the coasts of Scotland and Ireland, are more closely related to Antarctic orcas than the type 1 group, which are found across the eastern North Atlantic.


http://news.discovery.com/earth/killer-whales-splitting-into-two-species.html

[Sebastian Doyle]

1. So global climate change is now contributing to evolution?

Won't that fuck with some freepers heads? :evilgrin:

[tabatha]

2. A big fuck !!!

LOL