Orcas were named killer whales by ancient sailors, who observed pods of the mammal hunting down prey and taking out larger whales at sea. They were often called "whale killer," which eventually became "killer whale." However, the orca is not a whale at all, but is actually part of the dolphin family, Delphinidae. They are the only species in their specific genus, but are most closely related to dolphins from Australia and South East Asia.
The orca is an apex predator, meaning it's at the top of its food chain and has no immediate threat as one of the largest and most powerful aquatic animals. However, the species is still threatened by environmental concerns, such as fishing equipment discarded or lost at sea like nets that pose entanglement dangers, chemicals that don't break down in nature and become stored in the fatty tissue of the orcas when they digest contaminated food, and shock waves from underwater explosives or military sonar that can cause orca blood vessels to burst and hemorrhage.
As social animals, orcas rely on a system of communication tools to talk with members of their pods, navigate the ocean, and hunt. On the surface, they use body language like breaching, slapping their flippers or tail, or bringing their head out of the water. Each population of killer whales has its own unique language, developed over millions of years, and made up of a series of whistles, clicks, pulsed calls, low-frequency pops, and jaw claps made by forcing air through the nasal passages and amplifying the sound through the fatty area of their heads, commonly referred to as the melon. When receiving sound, the orca uses its jaw - sound waves from echolocution travel from the jaw to the inner ear and then to the brain, where a detailed image is created. Their echolocution is considered the most powerful and most sophisticated of any animal.
In fact, the social status of a killer whale could be a matter of life and death - particularly for males living off the Pacific coast of North America, where populations of Chinook salmon dip lower due to fluctuations in temperature due to El Niño and the fishing industry. Males who are nearer to the centre of the social framework of the pod have a mortality rate 67% lower than those on the social sidelines, who are not as connected and may not know where salmon are located or may be excluded from sharing of prey. These males are more likely to starve when times are tough. However, females do not suffer the same fate no matter what their social status.
Travelers who love to visit new states in the US may find plenty of worthwhile destinations and ideas when considering the South Central region. States like Oklahoma are a must-visit in the region, as it boasts iconic landmarks and quirky sights that will always bring smiles to familiar or unfamiliar faces. While the state offers vibrant getaway amenities, it also has wildlife and dangerous reptiles lurking about, particularly snakes. These venomous slitherers in the "Sooner State" are the ones to look out for!
The Broad-Banded Copperhead, or Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus, is named for its copper-red pigments and light tan body coloration. The reptile is unique for its less thin bands across the spine within the Copperhead subspecies. Copperheads like these are known for using their tails to attract food and prey; they also enjoy wiggling their bodies like a caterpillar to attract unsuspecting victims. They measure about 2 to 3 feet in length and typically have banding narrows with hourglass designs.
Desert Massasaugas (Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii) are reptiles of the Viperidae family that measure 1.5 to 2.5 feet in length and are known for their heavy bodies that are marked with dark brown blotches across their spines. They have crossbands that appear on the tail and are usually outlined in black with a rattle on their tail. Two stripes going down to the neck area make it easy to spot them from others. They possess elliptical pupils, and just as other pit vipers do, they enjoy using their heat-sensing nostril pits.
The Osage Copperhead, scientifically referred to as Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster, is a light tan snake similar to the Broad-Banded species but has a unique aspect with its clear yellow coat instead of being black. These species are greenish-yellow with similar wiggling formations to Broad-Banded ones, but they are also possible to find without any spotted marks or blotches. The tips of their tails are meant to wiggle to trick nearby predators into thinking they are "juicy worms." These snakes measure the same as Broad-Banded types at 2 to 3-foot lengths.
The Prairie Rattlesnake, or Crotalus viridis, is a venomous species in Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, and a few other states. These snakes are very noticeable in the open with oval, squarish, or hexagonal dark brown blotches along the spine and ringing tails. These snakes measure 1.5 to 5.5 feet in length and are known for preying on small mammals, lizards, and ground avians. They prefer grasslands, rocky outcrop dwellings, and sometimes even prairie dog towns; they are big fans of wintry seasonal habitats and enjoy wooded mountainous areas with moderate vegetation.
The Southern Copperhead is yet another member of the Copperhead family, designated as Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix. It measures at about 2.5 to 3 feet in length, with the possibility of growing up to 4 feet or 53 inches. These snakes are known for their light tan and pinkish-tan pigments, with dark brown and reddish-brown band layers. The Southern Copperhead is similar to others with its hourglass markings and is seen in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and a couple of other states.
