The stop is tough. The killer whale (Orcinus orca), a mammal, and the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), a fish, are the most feared marine predators. Perhaps for this very reason, they maintain an attitude of mutual respect. According to biologists, fights between the two animals are extremely rare. But when they are at odds, the orcas have the upper hand. “They are bigger, more intelligent and hunt in groups”, says marine biologist Jenna Cains, from Shark Diving Unlimited, a South African agency specializing in dives to observe sharks. In the infographic below, we’ve collated animals into eight categories. Each victory is worth one point – in the only tie, both scored. In the end, the orca won by just a tiny point!
In this bloody battle, the orca wins by a bite
FLAGRANT RARE
One of the few fights captured by man took place in 1997, on the coast of California, in the United States. Threatened by a 3.5 meter white shark, an adult orca, accompanied by a calf, ripped the enemy to pieces. The scenes on the side were recorded by marine biologists who passed by the site.
1 – LENGTH
POINT FOR ORCA – It reaches 8 meters and can weigh 4.5 tons. The white shark does not exceed 6.4 meters (most are between 3.5 and 5.5 meters) and its maximum weight is 3.3 tons
2 – SPEED
POINT FOR THE SHARK – He swims at 60 km/h and reaches a depth of almost 2,000 meters. The killer whale does not exceed 55 km/h and, as it needs to go up to breathe, it never goes below 200 meters
3 – ATTACK WEAPON
POINT FOR THE SHARK – Its mouth has 3,000 teeth up to 7.5 centimeters long, arranged in several rows. The orca loses badly in this regard, as it has “only” 40 to 50 teeth of up to 10 centimeters
4 – WHAT THEY EAT
A TIE – The animals have similar tastes and devour sea lions, seals, elephant seals, dolphins, turtles and whatever comes their way. The losers are the lunch candidates!
5 – HOW THEY ATTACK
POINT FOR ORCA – They are more intelligent and attack in packs to corner their victims. The shark approaches alone under the prey and bites it several times until it kills it.
6 – MORE DEVELOPED SENSE
POINT FOR THE SHARK – Your nose picks up a drop of blood in a pool! The orca has good hearing, but it is no match for the electrical sensors in the skin that the shark uses to detect animals at a distance.
7- WEAK POINTS
POINT FOR ORCA – The shark recoils when attacked in the eyes, nose or gills. The orca is tougher. But it is also more docile. Despite its reputation as being mean, it only attacks when threatened.
8 – WHERE THEY LIVE
POINT FOR ORCA –
It has greater adaptive capacity, as it is found in all oceans, from the poles to the Equator. The shark hates cold water and prefers warmer regions.