Jennifer Nalewicki is a Salt Lake City-based journalist whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Scientific American, Popular Mechanics and more. She covers several science topics from planet Earth to paleontology and archaeology to health and culture. Prior to freelancing, Jennifer held an Editor role at Time Inc.
Orcas have long been categorized as a single species, although some scientists have questioned this classification in recent decades. Now, researchers propose that two orca populations in the eastern North Pacific Ocean are actually two distinct species.
For example, resident killer whales have more rounded dorsal fins and are known for being part of tight-knit pods that prey on salmon and other fish. Bigg's killer whales , by contrast, have dorsal fins that are more pointed and straight. They also travel in smaller groups than resident orcas and predominantly hunt larger animals, such as seals and other whale species.
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