Killer Whale Evolution

Evolution of Killer Whales

More than 50 million years ago, the Killer Whale likely was a land animal. That is a very different picture than the one we see today when we view this amazing creature that only lives in the water. It is believed the early ancestors had appendages and over time they developed into flippers that allow them to very easily manipulate the water where they spend their entire lives.

This information in is based on the scientific information we have relating to their evolution as a species. Through the extraction of DNA, researches are able to break the Killer Whale into three categories. While in name they are lumped together, they have significant differences that result in that further breakdown. Many others have been categorized too but only as extinct forms of the Killer Whale. It is only these three that still remain.

The three categories of Killer Whales are based upon their choice of living conditions and habitats. They include the resident, offshore, and the transient whales. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that Killer Whales have made many adaptations in order to live a life completely in the water. Their bodies are structured for them to move very quickly through the water. This allows them to easily capture the prey they need to survive upon.

Killer Whales have to breath in air, and they do so through a blow hole. This is located on the dorsal of their head. When they are under the water they hold their breath. They can stay under the water for up to 15 minutes before they must surface for air. Those that live in the colder regions often can find air pockets in the layers of ice so they don’t come all the way to the surface in order to breath.

The levels of evolution for the Killer Whale seem to be very diverse. This is what is baffling to researchers. If the evolution was a way to adapt to the changing environment around them, how come some of them headed for warm regions and others headed for colder ones? This is just one of the many questions that still loom when the topic of Killer Whale evolution is discussed.

There are still plenty of holes in the theory about Killer Whale evolution. However, the evidence we have is what it is all based on. As new types of testing including DNA were introduced the remains from millions of years ago were compared to them now. The study of the evolution of Killer Whales is very complex and challenging but it is also extremely rewarding.

Some of the ideas out there though about Killer Whale evolution are definitely wrong. For example those that say they adapted by consuming entire villages of people or that these predators had to move on after killed other animals in the water but not eating them but only for destruction. The Killer Whale is an animal that follows its instinct and does what it needs to for survival. It is not a cold blooded killer that is out there to kill whatever it can get a hold of.

These animals continue to show a strong ability to adapt to changes in their environment as well. There is a good chance they can continue to evolve to new levels now and into the future in order for them to survive as a species. The Killer Whale is believed to be among the oldest of all the dolphin species in the world. Hopefully they will be able to continue life on Earth rather than becoming only a part of history.