Orcas sing to their supper say experts
KILLER whales hum to herring to herd them into groups before slaughtering them with a slap of their tails, researchers at a Scottish university have found.
Scientists at St Andrews University have recorded the huge sea mammals, also known as Orcas, performing the underwater song of death for the first time in Scotland, off the coast of Unst, Shetland.
The low notes cause the herrings' swim bladders to vibrate, frightening them into gathering into tight schools where they make easy prey.
The only previous record of such behaviour in the world was among Icelandic herring-eating killer whales, and their distinct herding calls show for the first time that the Icelandic whales are hunting off Scotland.
The Scots discovery was made by members of the Scottish Killer Whale Team.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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