Echolocation
Orcas have the ability to use echolocation kind of like bats do. Orcas send out high pitched clicking sounds and when these sounds hit an object it echos back. The echolocation sense is able to determine the distance, size, speed, shape, and direction of an object from the echo. The sound being sent and the echo coming back happens very fast. It is believed that an orca's clicks can be heard by other orcas up to five miles away.
Orcas also whistle and scream. Different pods have their own set of sounds. These sounds travel fast through the water.
Melon
an orcas melon is a rounded area of fat in their head. Orcas use this area to send out their echolocation clicks. The fat helps to form the clicks into a sound beam. When the echolocation echos come back the orca senses them through their lower jaw.
Larynx
A orca does not have vocal cords in their larynx. It is believed that the sounds they make are made by air moving in air sacs by the blowhole. The sounds orcas make are called calls.
The blow hole
A orcas blow hole is located on top of its head. They use their blow hole to breath air.
Muscular flap
This is a flap of muscle which keeps water from getting into the blow hole when the orca is underwater.
.................
This site has been developed by students for ThinkQuest Junior '98
