First Observations of Feeding on Thresher <I>(Alopias vulpinus)</I> and Hammerhead <I>(Sphyrna zygaena)</I> Sharks by Killer Whales <I>(Orcinus orca)</I> Specialising on Elasmobranch Prey

2005/01/02 by Ingrid N. Visser · 4 citations
Environmental Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Ichthyology and Marine Biology #Marine animal studies overview #Underwater Acoustics Research

paper · doi:10.1578/am.31.1.2005.83

openalex publication_date 2005/01/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06

Abstract

Killer whale (Orcinus orca) predation on elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) is not often reported. In New Zealand waters, killer whales captured and ate thresher (Alopias vulpinus) and smooth-hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) sharks. Both species were not reported previously as prey of killer whales. These observations help support the idea that elasmobranchs are a main prey type for New Zealand killer whales; ten species of elasmobranchs are now recorded as prey for this population.

Citations

• PREDATION ON A WHITE SHARK ( CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS ) BY A KILLER WHALE ( ORCINUS ORCA ) AND A POSSIBLE CASE OF COMPETITIVE DISPLACEMENT
• BENTHIC FORAGING ON STINGRAYS BY KILLER WHALES ( ORCINUS ORCA ) IN NEW ZEALAND WATERS

Cited by

• Killer whale ecotypes: is there a global model?
• Fear at the top: killer whale predation drives white shark absence at South Africa’s largest aggregation site
• Marine mammal [wikipedia]
• Orca [wikipedia]