‘We got lucky’: Researchers seeking elusive Type D killer whales catch a break GlobeBC
Type D orcas prefer somewhat warmer waters of the sub-Antarctic over colder waters farther south. Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have collected skin and blubber samples from the orcas to determine if they are a separate species of killer whale, or if their distinct markings are a genetic abnormality.
But a mere sighting wasn’t what they needed. The team was there to gather genetic material, acoustic recordings and other data to help establish whether these whales are, in fact, a fourth species of killer whale. But it was the rise of digital photography that began to build the case. With so many individuals able to capture and easily share high-quality images, Mr. Pitman and his colleagues had enough material in 2010 to publish a scientific paper in Polar Biology describing the whales.They are distinguished from their cousins by their bulbous head, a pointed, swept-back dorsal fin and an unusually small white eyepatch that makes them instantly recognizable.
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