The orca uses its fluke for pushing its body through the water. Its fluke is also called a caudal fin.
The orca uses its dorsal fin to steer. A male's dorsal fin can be six feet (1.8 m) tall. A female orca has a much smaller dorsal fin. Scientists can track and study pods of orcas, and be able to tell one orca from another, because each dorsal fin has its own special markings.
The orca can use its eyes for seeing, but they use echolocation for finding their way most of the time because the water is often dark .
The orca's ears are small holes behind their eyes. Orcas can hear but it is believed they sense most of the sounds through their lower jaws using echolocation.
The saddle is a large gray patch on the orca's back right behind the dorsal fin.
The orcas pectoral flippers are kind of like their hands. They use them to steer but they also use them to touch each other and cuddle their babies.
The eyespots are white spots in front of each of the eyes.
The orca's rostrum is designed for tearing up meat. Its teeth are about 3 inches long and very sharp.
Blubber
Orcas have a thick layer of fat called blubber. Blubber helps the orca to keep warm, even in Arctic waters and freezing temperatures.
Skin
The orca's smooth skin helps them to swim very fast. Smooth skin causes less friction as they move. Orcas like to rub their skin and touch other orcas. Orcas in oceanariums seem to like to be petted.
|
|
.................