Exchange Of O2 And CO2 In Orcas

  Orcas are able to make up for the poor amount of oxygen they respire by having massive amounts of hemoglobin in their blood.

  Whales like Orcas will take in a lot of carbon during their lifetimes.

  On average they can let out 33 tons of CO2 when they finally die and sink to the bottom of the ocean.

Orca Circulatory System

  Orcas, just like all other mammals have a closed circulatory system.

  With closed circulatory system, this means the blood will remain inside the blood vessels.

  This helps to keep the blood of an animal out and separate from the body tissues.

  This system usually has blood pumped with a higher pressure.

Digestion Of A Orca

  Similar to a lot of other whales, Orcas digestive systems contain a esophagus, a compartmentalized stomach, and the intensities. 

  When their prey is swallowed it goes into the esophagus where it’s pushed towards the expandable stomach. 

  The stomach has three parts called the rumen, the cardiac stomach, and the pylorus.

  All these three help to further digest food to the intestines where nutrients can be absorbed.

Orcas Nutrition

  Orcas are at the top of the food chain and therefore are apex predators.

  Orcas can eat a wide variety of different animals from the sea to get their nutrition, such as fish, squids, seals, penguins, and baby whales.

  There have even been rare instances where orcas have eaten polar bears and moose.

How Orcas Can Obtain Food

  Orcas are able to obtain their food by working together and hunting in pods.

  One adaption orcas have made is herding fish all together and then stunning them with tail strikes.

  Another more dangerous tactic is beaching themselves in order to catch prey like seals and sea lions.

Body Structure Of Orcas

  Orcas body structure is somewhat similar to a cylinder that tapers off at both the endings.

  This shape for orcas help to be more energy efficient and is also able to create less drag.

  They also have 2 ventral pectoral fins and a distinct dorsal fin.

Protection For Orcas 

  Orcas are at the top of the food chain so they don’t normally need ways to protect themselves.

  If Orcas do feel in danger then they can use things like echolocation, the help of their pods, their heightened senses, or their size for safety. 

Movement of Orcas

  Orcas have extremely stream lined bodies that allows them to quickly glide through the water and go to very fast speeds.

  With Orcas thick skin called blubber they are able to go to speeds up to 30mph.

Orca Regulation and Excretion

  Orcas can get rid of metabolic waste through breaking it down into urine, moving it into the bladder with its ureters, then excreting it from its body.

  Orcas are also able to maintain water balance with metabolic and dietary water.

Temperature Regulation Of Orcas

  Orcas are similar to other whales as they are also endothermic homeotherms. 

  Orcas are able to maintain a body temperature that is stable and are able to generate their own heat even with the changing temperature of the environment.

Orcas Reproduction

  Orcas are similar to a lot of other whale species in that they have sexual reproduction. 

 Adaptations orcas have is they can only breed one baby at a time, babies are nursed for a year, and gestation lasts for 16 - 17 months.

Life And Development Of Orcas

  For the development of male orcas they will be able to grow to 20 - 26ft, females can grow from 18 - 22ft, and calves are usually 7-8 ft.

  A male orca in the wild can live from a average of 30 years, and a average of 46 years for female orcas in the wild.

Mating Behaviors Of Orcas

  When female orcas undergo estrus they are able to occur multiple times during one year which is called a polyestrus.

  Another behavior of orcas is that they are polygamous so they will have multiple partners over their lives.