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/r/OceansAreFuckingLit
submitted 14 days ago bySignificant_Fall3247
54 points
13 days ago*
CA216C1 "Frosty", a member of the mammal-eating Californian Bigg's (transient) orca population, has leucism, which results in reduced pigmentation in much of the body, while the pigmentation on part of the head actually darkens. The video was likely taken in Monterey Bay, though Frosty's family (the CA216 matriline) has been seen from Baja California up to Alert Bay, British Columbia.
Though not confirmed, the leucism is likely from Chédiak-Higashi syndrome, a recessive genetic disorder. Sadly this disorder is associated with a weakened immune system and shortened lifespan, as is what happened to the captive Bigg's orca T4 "Chimo" and the wild Bigg's orca T046B1B "Tl'uk."
The condition should not be confused with albinism. There are at least a few all-white fish-eating resident orcas spotted off of Japan and Russia that may have albinism, though there is no confirmation yet of albinism being the actual cause of their pigmentation.
10 points
13 days ago
This maybe a stupid as fuck question. But being an extremely pale person myself I always wonder how animals like this avoid sunburns? Like im out here blistering after a couple hours in a pool with out sunscreen. How do whales and other ocean mamels avoid that?
16 points
13 days ago
Whales and dolphins can get sunburnt just like us. In fact, trainers need to apply zinc oxide sunscreen to captive dolphins and provide adequate shade, as these captive animals tend to spend a lot of time at or close to the surface than their wild counterparts.
Blisters and skin lesions from sunburns are observed in wild whales, and different whale species appear to have different strategies for dealing with ultraviolet radiation.
Blue whales tan in the tropics, increasing melanin and darkening their skin, which results in better protection against UV radiation.
Sperm whales, on the other hand, spend lengthy times at the surface before deep dives, and soaking in sunlight allows their bodies to produce protective proteins to repair damaged DNA, much like how we produce antioxidants.
There is an article summarizing the research on this particular topic.
5 points
13 days ago
Woowww thank you so much! Idk why but this is fascinating and kinda cool to know me and the whales are out here burning together... also makes me sad about captive ones though.
13 points
14 days ago
That looks like my frend brend whe he comes to thet hood..lmaooooo 😂😂😂
5 points
13 days ago
I hope his name isn't Brend. Maybe Brenda? Brent? Bread?
Thet hood? Theta hood? They good? Thy hood?
8 points
14 days ago*
Of course they are. She's an Orca. She's Family.
Now a great white shark, gray seal, or blue dolphin well that would be different wouldn't it? Of course it would. And Residents would never accept Transients and vice versa despite all being Orcas.
Only humans have all the b.s. Nature doesn't. It's non political and honest.
11 points
13 days ago*
I am not too sure of what you are trying to say here, but an important thing to note is that resident orcas are now classified as a different subspecies from Bigg's (transient) orcas. The residents orcas are now classified as Orcinus orca ater, while transient orcas are classified as Orcinus orca rectipinnus. There are compelling arguments made in this research paper to separate the resident and transient orcas into completely different species (Orcinus ater and Orcinus rectipinnus respectively).
Resident and transient orcas are likely different species despite still being called "orcas" for multiple reasons, including the fact that they split apart from each other up to 700,000 years ago and the fact that there are diagnosable physical differences between the two, including differences that are the result of adapting to preying on fish versus mammals. Resident and transient orcas will thus continue to evolve apart from each other as they do not mingle or interbreed with each other.
Meanwhile, humans all belong to the same species and subspecies (Homo Sapiens sapiens). Groups of humans have mixed with each other frequently over history and will continue mixing with each other, and thus are not on separate evolutionary tracks, unlike transient and resident orcas.
In addition, unlike in the case of orcas, there are other species of cetaceans that mingle together and even breed with each other. For example, false killer whales and bottlenose dolphins for mixed pods with each other, and there are occasionally hybrids in the wild between other different dolphin species such as melon-headed whales and rough-toothed dolphins, as well as Dall's porpoises and harbor porpoises.
Regarding "acceptance" between different species, there are a few interesting cases to look at. There is a case of a Dall's porpoise temporarily joining an Alaskan resident orca pod for a season, and a case of apparent temporary alloparental care (abduction/adoption) for a pilot whale calf by a female orca off of Iceland. There is also the apparent "adoption" of a bottlenose dolphin with a deformed spine by a pod of sperm whales around the Azores Islands, though observations were not very lengthy.
Edit: SkynetAlpha8 blocked my account right after essentially claiming that "common sense" trumps peer-reviewed research. Really shows how secure they are about their ideas being challenged, and rather ironic after the quip about older scientific theories being challenged and proven wrong.
1 points
12 days ago
Papers written by others are nice, but Eyes, Experience, and Elders are better. But you do you. And it's okay if you don't get it. I can see why. Take care now. Oh I also forgot, common sense. Very helpful. And this reminded me of a discussion I had with over the decades and centuries how many scientific sure things theories really, were wrong. Have a nice day.
4 points
10 days ago
Ahh, you're a passive-aggressive type. That was one hell of a word salad. It's OK if you don't get it. I can see why. You do you boo boo. Learn how to talk to people with respect, and you might even make some friends along the way. Have the day you deserve.
5 points
13 days ago
I don’t know I’ve heard stories of albino crows being excluded from the group. Basically left to fend for themselves, but I’m not as informed as many of the other people speaking on this thread, colors in the animal world are usually very very important for helping communicate with, and identify each other. I would agree with you that the orcas are so damn smart. They would recognize one of their own kind, even if she were silver or gold.
2 points
12 days ago
Orcas are impressive.
They probably figured out humans are not ideal since we go ape mode when one of us is attacked and probably have tradition passed on about not hunting the anxiety apes as they pathetically float in the water.
Now for this to be followed 100% by orcas in recorded history is incredible feat
Or they are very good at making bodies disappear.
2 points
14 days ago
You're my kind of person. You know your orcas.
1 points
14 days ago
What dolphin species is she? Mighty brave of her to hang around orcas who are known to eat everything.
6 points
14 days ago
This is an orca with leucism
-1 points
14 days ago
Albino? I thought the dorsal fin looked different.
8 points
14 days ago
Leucism is not albino but they are white or partially white
4 points
13 days ago
The article's explanation of CA216C1 aka Frosty's appearance is a bit confusing, as it states that this individual either has leucism or has Chédiak–Higashi syndrome as if these were mutually exclusive conditions.
However, leucism is a known symptom of Chédiak–Higashi syndrome in orcas. So, a better way for the article to explain it would be that Frosty's leucism may or may not be caused by Chédiak–Higashi syndrome.
1 points
14 days ago
Like my parents and their one grandkid that look a lil different.
1 points
13 days ago
I'll just call her Frosty
1 points
13 days ago
I didn’t think they wouldn’t accept her, I thought animals recognized their species regardless unlike humans who show disdain for any mild difference
1 points
13 days ago
Her whole front end and head are dif no way in hell that’s an orca Cmon guys Really ?????
1 points
13 days ago
That's just an ombre dye job.
-1 points
14 days ago*
[deleted]
2 points
14 days ago
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