Some thoughts on the “killer whale” incident. What I find annoying about it (which the article hints at, but doesn’t make explicit) is all of the commentators repeatedly referring to the animal as “the whale.” O’Reilly made a fool of himself on this last night, when he compared an Orca to Moby Dick. Hint to the media — “killer whales” are not whales. They are the largest member of the family Delphinidae. In other words, they are dolphins.
10 thoughts on “It’s All In The Name”
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I’ve won several bets about “killer whales are not whales” in the past…
I admit it’s been a while since I read up on it, but the last thing I did read claimed that since delphinids are cetaceans, they are indeed whales — just smaller than average.
Has more recent study deepened the distinction to make that no longer regarded as true?
“…claimed that since delphinids are cetaceans, they are indeed whales — just smaller than average.”
True, if you regard all cetaceans as ‘whales’ of some sort, and some do.
Nevertheless, Rand is right that being one of the 50-odd species of the cetacean family Delphinidae. (of which Orcinus Orca is the largest) is our taxonomic definition of what a dolphin is. (The most familiar to us is the Atlantic Bottlenosed Dolphin, tursiops truncatus) *
BTW, being one of the six or so members of the family ‘Phocoenidae’ is what makes you a true ‘porpoise.’
* And of course, no relation to the fish known sometimes as ‘dolphin’ and ‘Mahi-Mahi:’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphinfish
All whales are of the order Cetacea, but not all cetaceans are necessarily whales. Delphinidae are a different family.
Killer whales are Delphinidea, yes. But the Delphinidae family is part of the Odontoceti suborder: toothed whales, including Sperm Whales and Narwhals.
“The name “killer whale” derives from the Spanish “ballena asesina” (“killer whale” in English), evidently coming from sailors who observed them hunting whales.[9][10] English-speaking scientists most often use the term “killer whale.”[11]
“Killer whale” advocates point out that its naming heritage is not limited to Spanish sailors. Indeed, the genus name Orcinus means “of or belonging to the kingdom of the dead”,[11] and although the name Orca (in use since antiquity) is probably not etymologically related, the assonance might have given some people the idea that it meant “whale that brings death” or “demon from hell.” The name is also similar to Orcus, a Roman god of the underworld. Also, there is the fact that some members of the species have killed people (although such killings occur only when the whales are in captivity and never in the wild).[12]
Ancient Romans originally applied Orca (plural Orcae) to these animals, possibly borrowing it from the Greek ὄρυξ, which referred (among other things) to a whale species. Since the 1960s, Orca has steadily grown in popularity; both names are now used. The term “orca” is preferred by some to avoid the negative connotations of “killer”,[13] and because the species is a type of dolphin rather than a whale.”
From Wikipedia, “killer whales”:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whale
Besides, “killer dolphin” brings up an entirely different mental image.
After watching what a killer whale does to a 150lb seal before eating it, I find the idea of getting in a small tank of water with one foolish at best.
I now refer to them as murder whales.
Currently, the trainers seem to understand the risks involved with getting into a tank full of killer whales. Unfortunately, our prized Orca trainers are exposing themselves to an unexpectedly high degree of danger from an animal that can take down sharks if it wants too. Therefore, we should find a way to man rate a killer whale so as to make them safe for the performers. Perhaps we should add an abort button to the nose of the Orca link to pyrotechnics which are capable of “safing” the animal in the event of an impending disaster. Of course every precaution should be taken to insure that the abort feature does not have to be employed. However, in the event that such a catastrophe did occur look at the upside; free Orca meat for everyone!