Marine Fact of the Week

For this #marinefactoftheweek, take a look at this awe-inspiring photograph by one of our Captains.

Pictured here is an adult male (bull) Bigg’s orca breaching in Juan de Fuca Strait. The large fins on the side of the animal’s body are the pectoral fins. On adult male orcas, these fins can reach a maximum of 6 feet in length and up to three feet in width. Take a look at these fins, as well as the large dorsal fin on this individual. Wow!

A whale’s pectoral flippers primarily serve the purpose of steering, and even stopping when used with the tail. Veins in the pectoral flippers help to control and regulate body temperature.

We mentioned it in a previous #marinefactoftheweek, but does anyone know how tall a male orca’s dorsal fin can be? Information: American Cetacean Society, Smithsonian Ocean, NOAA. …#fivestarwhales#fivestarwhalewatching#orcas#cetaceans#cetaceaninformation#whales#wildlife#salishsea#salishseawildlife#welikeourwhaleswild#biggsorca#bctourism#localbusiness#golocal#victoriabc#whalewatching#wildlifetours#orcinusorca#vancouverislandexplorer#DiscoverVictoriaBC#wearePWWA#victorialocal#local#discover