Description
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Context:
Recently, More than 150 false killer whales were stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania, Australia.
This has brought attention to killer whales, their behavior, & their conservation status.
Do you know ?
Orcas are called "killer whales" because they hunt and kill other whales, but there are very few recorded attacks on humans.
Orcas sleep is known as unihemispheric sleep where only one half of their brain sleeps at a time. This allows them to stay alert and continue swimming.
As apex predators, orcas are at the top of the food chain. They are highly intelligent & work together in teams to catch prey. It makes them skilled hunters in the ocean.
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About Killer Whales (Orcas)
- Scientific Classification: Killer whales are the largest members of the Delphinidae family, which includes dolphins. It is also called as Orcas.
- Distribution: Orcas are found in many places in the world, both in cold & warm waters.
- Family Details: The Delphinidae family also includes other species like long finned pilot whales & short finned pilot whales. They are sometimes called "whales" instead of dolphins.
- Social Behavior: Orcas are social animals & live in groups known as pods. These pods are made up of related individuals that normally stay together for long periods.
- Communication: Orcas use sounds underwater to help them feed, talk to each other, & find their way around.
What are their Physical Characteristics & Habitat
- Orcas are easy to recognize because of their black and white coloring.
- Habitat: Killer whales live in a wide range of ocean environments, from the open sea to coastal areas. They are found in many types of marine habitats across the world.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: The conservation status of killer whales is listed as Data Deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- This means that there isn't enough information to determine whether they are at risk of disappearing.
About Tasmania :
- Tasmania is an island state of Australia.
- It is located to the south of the Australian mainland.
- And it is separated from it by the Bass Strait.
- The state includes the main island of Tasmania, the 26th-largest island in the world, and the surrounding 1000 islands.
Source: Thehindu
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PRACTICE QUESTION
Question: What is the conservation status of Killer Whales (Orcas) according to the IUCN Red List?
a) Endangered
b) Vulnerable
c) Data Deficient
d) Least Concern
Answer: c.
Explanation:
● According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the conservation status of Killer Whales (Orcas) is listed as "Data Deficient."
● This means there isn't enough information available to determine whether they are at risk of extinction.
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