All-white killer whale spotted off Russia's east coast - Polidicks

Source: [url]http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/23/11352521-all-white-killer-whale-spotted-off-russias-east-coast?lite[/url] [quote]An all-white, and possibly albino, killer whale has been spotted in seas off eastern Russia, scientists reported Monday, dubbing the adult male "Iceberg." "In many ways, Iceberg is a symbol of all that is pure, wild and extraordinarily exciting about what is out there in the ocean waiting to be discovered," Erich Hoyt, co-director of the Far East Russia Orca Project, said in a statement. "The challenge is to keep the ocean healthy so that such surprises are always possible." The researchers, who are studying killer whales in an area that's also seen as an opportunity for oil development, say Iceberg is the first adult, all-white male orca to have been documented. Advertise | AdChoices Young, all-white orcas have been seen before -- including two in Iceberg's pod -- but none has ever been recorded living into adulthood. Iceberg and his pod of 12 relatives were first spotted off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. "We have no genetic data" on Iceberg's pod, Hoyt wrote in a blog post Sunday, "but we are hoping to meet them again in summer 2012 and learn more about the phenomenon of white whales, why they occur, what it means and whether Iceberg is a true albino — perhaps we can catch a glimpse of a pink eye — or 'just' one of the most beautiful orcas anyone has ever seen." The area where Iceberg was first seen is inside Russia's largest marine reserve and the scientists hope it will be expanded to create a "network of reserves." "Such a call is in response to local overfishing in some areas, and increased oil and gas exploration, which poses a threat to marine mammals from increasing noise levels, ship traffic and potential oil spills," the scientists stated. "As noise levels increase, the ability of whales to communicate over long distances may be compromised."[/quote] Amazing! On a funny note, since this was off Russia's east coast, I bet Sarah Palin could see it from her house. :v:

IRL moby dick?

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Su1YXQYek[/media]

[QUOTE=faze;35690373] Amazing! On a funny note, since this was off Russia's east coast, I bet Sarah Palin could see it from her house. :v:[/QUOTE] Why is this such a joke? I don't understand. It's a [i]metaphor[/i]. She lives in fucking Alaska and Russia is only [i]58[/i] miles away. It wasn't meant to be taken literally.

Albino whales are quite rare. Really neat thing to see, makes them easy to spot. Like the famous Migaloo: [img]http://i.imgur.com/NhmSH.jpg[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/EIjrh.jpg[/img] The white fella may have skin cancer though, sadly.

[QUOTE=Higginz511;35690405][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Su1YXQYek[/media][/QUOTE] Love me some whalecore.

Something tells me hunters are gonna swarm that place now, i hope it gets protection.

WHITE WHALE HOLY GRAIL

[QUOTE=Source;35690513]Something tells me hunters are gonna swarm that place now, i hope it gets protection.[/QUOTE] As far as I know, the color of the whales skin doesn't change any value associated with the products retrieved from hunting it. The only reason (due to human activity) this whale would be worse off, would be if someone thought they were captain Ahab. On top of that, Killer whales are endangered/data defficient so they are not supposed to be hunted period. However its mutation could make it more susceptible to natural harms like predation (but I dont think killer whales have many predators). But I dont know too much about whales specifically.

[QUOTE=monkey11;35690609]they are not supposed to be hunted period. [/QUOTE] You think that stops anyone?

[QUOTE=monkey11;35690609]As far as I know, the color of the whales skin doesn't change any value associated with the products retrieved from hunting it. The only reason (due to human activity) this whale would be worse off, would be if someone thought they were captain Ahab. On top of that, Killer whales are endangered/data defficient so they are not supposed to be hunted period. However its mutation could make it more susceptible to natural harms like predation (but I dont think killer whales have many predators). But I dont know too much about whales specifically.[/QUOTE] Orca are the apex predators of basically the whole ocean ecosystem. Don't have to worry about much predation. Biggest threat is probably skin cancer from increased exposure to UV radiation.

[QUOTE=TheSporeGA;35690633]You think that stops anyone?[/QUOTE] It stops some, but I see your point. [editline]23rd April 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=OvB;35690659]Orca are the apex predators of basically the whole ocean ecosystem. Don't have to worry about much predation. Biggest threat is probably skin cancer from increased exposure to UV radiation.[/QUOTE] Thats kinda what I figured. Didn't know if there was the ocasional shark attack, which could still happen if the shark gets confused when seeing a white orca. Marine environments are not my discipline though.

[QUOTE=TheSporeGA;35690633]You think that stops anyone?[/QUOTE] Scientists know nearly every Orca on the east coast [i]by name[/i] Recently a whale washed up on the shores and they knew exactly who it was, and what pod they belonged to. They would notice if one of them went missing pretty fast. I'm not sure how the Russians handle it, but Orca being hunted is not a problem here.

-snip-

[QUOTE=monkey11;35690665]Thats kinda what I figured. Didn't know if there was the ocasional shark attack, which could still happen if the shark gets confused when seeing a white orca. Marine environments are not my discipline though.[/QUOTE] A shark is even below Orca on the food chain. Shamu is a more fierce and intelligent killing machine than Jaws. The pod would destroy a shark of any size if it threatened one of it's family members. Orca are mean sons-a-bitches.

[QUOTE=OvB;35690711]A shark is even below Orca on the food chain. Shamu is a more fierce and intelligent killing machine than Jaws. The pod would destroy a shark of any size if it threatened one of it's family members. Orca are mean sons-a-bitches.[/QUOTE] They even name the whale in this video. [video=youtube;W8GaDuCvYbE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8GaDuCvYbE[/video]

[QUOTE=OvB;35690711]A shark is even below Orca on the food chain. Shamu is a more fierce and intelligent killing machine than Jaws. The pod would destroy a shark of any size if it threatened one of it's family members. Orca are mean sons-a-bitches.[/QUOTE] Hence, their other name, Killer Whales. Bamfs

seeing actual albino versions of animals that are supposed to be mostly grey/black is pretty awesome.

CUFF HIM FOR RACISM, KILLING THOSE BLACK ANIMALS

[QUOTE=bluesky;35690800]They even name the whale in this video. [video=youtube;W8GaDuCvYbE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8GaDuCvYbE[/video][/QUOTE] Pretty much every Resident Orca pod is named off the west coast of the United States and Canada. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Northern_Resident_Killer_Whale_Pods[/url] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Resident_Killer_Whales[/url] Researchers know exactly who is who just by looking at specific details with dorsal fin shape or body markings. They can tell you what pod they come from and who their family is. They even use vocalization dialects to identify different pods. [url]http://www.whaleresearch.com/orca_ID_pods.html[/url] CA2 belongs to the LA pod as said in the video, but I can't seem to find any specific details about the pod itself.

Why did the reporter keep saying whale? It's a dolphin not a whale.

[QUOTE=Ithon;35691311]Why did the reporter keep saying whale? It's a dolphin not a whale.[/QUOTE] common ignorance, you would be surprised about all the people that think that they are whales

[QUOTE=Ithon;35691311]Why did the reporter keep saying whale? It's a dolphin not a whale.[/QUOTE] Because they probably commonly refer to them as killer whales, so it gets shortened to whale. Also for communication with the general populace. Edit: Since we are on the topic, what is the defining difference between dolphin and whale?

[QUOTE=Higginz511;35690405][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Su1YXQYek[/media][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyw0xeOwVd0[/media] [editline]23rd April 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Ithon;35691311]Why did the reporter keep saying whale? It's a dolphin not a whale.[/QUOTE] Because they're called "Killer Whales" and "Orca Whales". Honestly what the hell do you expect.

[QUOTE=Rhenae;35691481]Since we are on the topic, what is the defining difference between dolphin and whale?[/QUOTE] Between the suborders? [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetacea#Mysticeti_vs_Odontoceti"]Quite a few[/URL].

general populace would know what a dolphin is, so why not just say orca dolphin? I think whoever wrote that bit in the teleprompter throught orcas are whales. I guess they were the same dumb that went to 'free willy' and still called them a whale as to the people who said they didn't know the titanic movie was based on a real ship called the titanic.

SPLIT YOUR LUNGS WITH BLOOD AND THUNDER WHEN YOU SEE THE WHITE WHALE BREAK YOUR BACKS AND CRACK YOUR OARS MEN IF YOU WISH TO PREVAIL THIS IVORY LEG IS WHAT PROPELS ME HARPOON THRUST IN THE SKY AIM DIRECTLY FOR HIS CROOKED BROW AND LOOK HIM STRAIGHT IN THE EYE

[QUOTE=Ray-The-Sun;35691679]Between the suborders? [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetacea#Mysticeti_vs_Odontoceti"]Quite a few[/URL].[/QUOTE] The thing about this is that a sperm whale is definitely a whale, and also a member of Odontoceti along with the dolphins. The difference between Odontoceti (Toothed Whales) and Mysticeti (Baleen Whales) is the obvious fact that one has teeth and the other has baleen. Mysticeti is pretty straight forward, but Odontoceti breaks down into actual whales, dolphins, and porpoises. [img]http://i.imgur.com/GfhgU.jpg[/img] One of the easier defining characteristics of a dolphin is the dorsal fin. Whales do not have a well defined dorsal fin while dolphins do. Calling a dolphin a whale is not necessarily wrong, it's just not very specific. It's sorta like calling a human a Primate. You're right, but not very specific.

[QUOTE=Ithon;35691311]Why did the reporter keep saying whale? It's a dolphin not a whale.[/QUOTE] Well if you want to be picky it belongs to the order Cetacea, which are commonly referred to as whales. And then the Odontoceti suborder(toothed whales). And then to the dolphin family. So calling it a whale isn't wrong.

i'm afraid of whales