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.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Broken Rangers: Club signals intention to go into administration
- Rangers run into the ground as furious HRMC battles to claw back tax
- Scottish independence: David Cameron set to snub Alex Salmond’s separation talks bid
- Rangers blame HMRC for driving club to brink of administration
- Six Nations: Steadman given notice as ruthless Robinson seeks to strengthen team
- Scottish independence: No breakthrough in talks between Alex Salmond and Michael Moore
- Scottish independence: David Cameron set to snub Alex Salmond’s separation talks bid
- The Rumour Mill: Tuesday’s football news and gossip
- The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip
- Alex Salmond claims Scottish independence would be good for English regions
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Wednesday 15 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South west
