Killer Whale and Beaked Whale Posters
Art-Science Collaboration Celebrates the Diversity of Killer Whales and Beaked Whales from Around the World
The remarkable diversity of killer whale ecotypes (Orcinus orca) and beaked whales in the Family Ziphiidae is challenging to document, yet central to our understanding of their ecology, evolution, and conservation. Marine mammal researchers at NOAA Fisheries and colleagues conduct surveys and use a variety of specialized tools - genomics, acoustics, photogrammetry - to understand the taxonomy and role of these predators in ocean ecosystems.
Uko Gorter, a scientific and natural history illustrator who specializes in marine mammal illustrations, worked with cetacean researchers from around the world to create two posters for NOAA Fisheries. The project and descriptions were curated by renown cetacean researcher, Robert Pitman.
Learn more about the diversity of these species by exploring the posters below.
About Beaked Whales and Killer Whales
Beaked whales
Despite being collectively abundant, globally widespread, and remarkably diverse, beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) are the least known large animals on the planet. Named for their extended, dolphin-like beak, 24 species in 6 genera are currently recognized, representing more than one-quarter of the 93 known species of cetaceans in the world. Two new species were described in the past 5 years alone, and there are probably more left to discover. They live in deep, offshore waters where they are master divers, in some cases plunging 3,000 meters (1.8 miles) for over 3.5 hours. They feed on small, deepwater squids and fishes, using suction feeding; as such, they don’t need teeth, and females of most species remain toothless their entire lives. Most males, however, retain a single tooth in each lower jaw that is enlarged for use as a tusk in jousting matches for access to breeding females. The size and location of these teeth is species specific, ranging from tiny to massive and from the tip of the lower jaw to halfway back. Within groups, adult males can usually be identified by the long, linear tooth-rake scars that they inflict on each other. These scars range from relatively light scratches to deep furrows, depending on the size and location of the teeth and how aggressively the individual species wield them. Beaked whales spend very little time at the surface, where killer whales and large sharks are the main threat, and live the bulk of their lives in total darkness. Almost everything known about the feeding ecology and behavior of most species has been gleaned from dead animals stranded on beaches; several species have never been identified alive in the wild. For the most part, the lives of beaked whales remain deep, dark secrets.
Killer whales
The killer whale (Orcinus orca) occurs in all the world’s oceans where it is the top marine predator and perhaps the most widespread vertebrate on earth. Although currently considered to be a single, worldwide species, recent research has revealed that there are at least 10 recognizable forms (or ecotypes) of killer whales. For the most part, these forms have different prey preferences, distributions, social structures, foraging behaviors, acoustics, physical features, and genetics. This has led some researchers to suggest that there is more than one species of killer whale, and perhaps several.
Posters
Beaked Whales: Mysteries of the Deep
Killer Whales: Ecotypes and Forms
Download high resolution posters here:
About Uko: Scientific and Natural History Illustrator
Image
Born in Arnhem, Holland, Uko Gorter began a second career in 1997. Following in
his father's footsteps, he pursued a lifelong dream of becoming an illustrator. His interest in nature led him to become a natural history illustrator. Specializing in marine mammal illustration, Uko Gorter has traveled extensively to observe whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals in their natural environment. Uko’s illustrations have appeared in scientific journals, books, magazines, websites, and on interpretive signs.
Uko illustrates whales and dolphins because they “indubitably speak to everyone's imagination. From the diminutive vaquita to the giant blue whale, these beautiful mammalian cousins are charismatic, intelligent, and often highly social. They are also tremendously important as indicators of the health of our oceans and rivers.
“Whereas our usual views of whales are fleeting glimpses at the surface, and may only show part of the animal, illustrations can show the entire gestalt of a whale. This is in sharp contrast to most photos, which only capture our fleeting views of these magnificent creatures. Illustrations can also more easily depict the inner workings or anatomy.” Click here to learn more about Uko Gorter.
For More Information
Pitman, R.L., Durban, J.W., Greenfelder, M., Guinet, C., Jorgensen, M., Olson, P.A., Plana, J., Tixier, P. and Towers, J.R., 2011. Observations of a distinctive morphotype of killer whale (Orcinus orca), type D, from subantarctic waters. Polar Biology, 34, pp.303-306.
Morin, P.A., Archer, F.I., Foote, A.D., Vilstrup, J., Allen, E.E., Wade, P., Durban, J., Parsons, K., Pitman, R., Li, L., Bouffard, P., Abel Nielsen, S.C., Rasmussen, M., Willerslev, E., Gilbert, M.T.P., and Harkins, T. 2010. Complete mitochondrial genome phylogeographic analysis of killer whales (Orcinus orca) indicates multiple species. Genome research, 20(7), pp.908-916.
Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Centier Center
Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University
Got questions? Contact Sarah.Mesnick@noaa.gov