Type B Killer Whale

The yellowish tint on Type B killer whales is caused by a thick accumulation of microscopic diatoms, a type of algae, on their skin. This accumulation happens because these orcas frequently inhabit the freezing waters of the Antarctic pack ice. They often rub against the ice to clean their skin, but the diatoms persistently cling to their bellies and eye patches.

Type B killer whales are famous for their specialized hunting techniques, primarily targeting seals and penguins resting on pack ice. They engage in wave-washing, where they swim in tight formation to create a large wave that knocks their prey into the water. They are also known to feed heavily on fish when mammalian prey is unavailable.

The Type B killer whale is physically smaller than the Type A killer whale, which preys on minke whales in open water. Type B orcas are further divided into large and small forms, with the large form specializing in seal hunting around the pack ice. Their distinct diatom-stained coloring and smaller eye patches visually separate them from the entirely black-and-white Type A.

This specific ecotype of orca is native to the freezing Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters, particularly around regions with dense pack ice. They are highly adapted to navigating the ice floes in search of seals and penguins. Researchers often spot them in the waters surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula, where they engage in dramatic wave-washing hunts.