AnimalID

Name

5400

Orca

LocationName:

Many Oceans Worldwide

Origin:

Marine Mania expansion

PurchaseCost:

$2,500

RequiresResearch:

No

IsClimber:

No

IsJumper:

No

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Description:

The killer whale isn’t really a whale at all. Also called an orca, (from the scientific name, Orcinus orca), these animals are the largest members of the family Delphinidae, commonly known as dolphins.

Although they are born less than three meters long, an adult male orca can grow to almost 10 meters. Females are almost as large. These distinctive creatures are entirely black and white. Scientists identify individual orcas by the shape of the white saddle located behind the dorsal fin and by the shape of the dorsal fin itself.

Killer whales are aptly named. They are impressive hunters at the top of the ocean’s food chain, although they have never been known to attack humans. Like some of the most effective land predators, orcas hunt together in intricate pod structures. The smallest traveling groups, or intrapods, are made up of family members. Intrapods join together to form subpods and larger pods in order to travel and hunt. These hunting groups are made up of anywhere from twelve to fifty orcas that combine their hunting skills and share their kills.

Pods of killer whales hunt prey of all sizes, although a particular pod may specialize in one type of prey. Orcas can hunt groups of smaller animals--fish, squid, birds, turtles, and penguins--or pick off single, larger animals. The larger prey animals found in the diet of the killer whale include seals, whales, dolphins, sea lions, and sharks (even great white sharks).

To catch larger animals, orcas use skill and teamwork. In order to kill a seal, pods have been known to tip a small ice floe and dump the hapless victim into the water where it can be easily subdued by the pod. If the seal is sunning on the beach, a killer whale can intentionally beach itself, grab its meal, and return to the water with it. When food is plentiful, orcas can afford to be picky eaters. They will often discard much of their kill after picking out their favorite parts.

In order to coordinate their hunts, orcas have developed a complicated system of communication, both physical and oral. Vocally, orcas use distinctive calls of about two seconds in duration to communicate. Most pods have a least 12 unique calls, but scientists do not yet know the meanings of each one. Orcas can also use physical signals to alert their pod to danger, announce their presence, or indicate the proximity of tasty prey. Lobtailing (fluke slapping) is a common signal between members of a killer whale pod. By using its tail flukes as a large paddle on the surface of the water, an orca can signal pod members that may be a long distance away.

Another characteristic orca behavior is the "spyhop." A killer whale can thrust its head and upper body vertically out of the water. This allows the animal to visually survey the surrounding area, alerting it to both predators and prey.

Attractiveness Adult:

Attractiveness Young:

Initial Happiness:

Habitat Preference:

120

130

70

70

Captivity:

Crowd:

CrowdHappiness Change:

ClimbsCliffs:

5

100

-5

No

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

To build a good animal exhibit you need to ask a few questions: (click them for the answers)

Which tank wall is suitable for this animal?     Remember that all tanks need a tank filter!

How big should the exhibit be and what Depth should the tank be?

What foliage should be used?

What rocks should be used?

What shelter does the animal need?

What toy does the animal like?

Does this animal perform in a show?

Yes

TankWallName

Purchase Cost

See Through

Height

Strength

Life

Cost Effective

Concrete Edge and Glass

$125

Yes

3

500

13

10.4

Atlantean Tank Wall

$125

Yes

3

500

13

10.4

Solid Concrete

$125

No

3

500

13

10.4

Black Bar and Glass

$130

Yes

3

500

13

10.0

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Animal Density

Min

Number of Animals/Exhibit

Max

90

2

3

Terrain Name

Value

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

100

90

180

270

360

450

540

630

720

810

900

Rocks

20

72

144

216

288

360

432

504

576

648

720

Foliage

8

7

14

22

29

36

43

50

58

65

72

Exhibit Size

100

90

180

270

360

450

540

630

720

810

900

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ID

Value

TreeName

Foliage Effect

Cost/ Square

Cost Effective

7416

8

Seaweed

8

$100

8.0

7401

6

Barnacles

6

$75

8.0

7415

6

Sea Star

6

$125

4.8

7404

6

Clam Bed

6

$125

4.8

7409

6

Kelp

6

$125

4.8

7410

6

Sea Lettuce

6

$110

5.5

7418

3

Sea Sponge

3

$100

3.0

7421

3

Purple Sea Urchin

3

$110

2.7

7403

3

Brittle Sea Star

3

$125

2.4

7420

3

Tube Worm

3

$125

2.4

7405

3

Orange Cup Coral

3

$155

1.9

7400

3

Sea Anemone

3

$110

2.7

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ID

Value

RockName

Size X

Size Y

Rock

Rock Effect

Purchase Cost

Cost Effective

9235

6

Small Ocean Floor Rock

1

1

Yes

24

$100

24.0

9241

6

Isle Rock

8

8

Yes

6

$150

4.0

9239

6

Large Coral Formation

4

6

Yes

6

$175

3.4

9236

6

Medium Coral Formation

4

4

Yes

6

$150

4.0

9237

6

Large Ocean Floor Rock

4

4

Yes

6

$165

3.6

9240

6

Iceberg

8

8

Yes

6

$200

3.0

9238

6

Medium Ocean Floor Rock

2

2

Yes

6

$150

4.0

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Shelter ID

Shelter Name

Shelter Value

Shelter Effect

Purchase Cost

Capacity

none

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ToyID

ToyName

ToyValue

PurchaseCost

6466

Fake Clam

100

$185

6468

Treasure Chest

100

$185

6470

Deep Sea Diver

100

$200

6500

Advanced Trick Area

14

$650

6501

Dolphin Ball (4x1)

10

$450

6502

Orca Ball (4x1)

15

$525

6503

Dolphin Hoop (4x1)

10

$475

6504

Orca Stage ((9x2)

16

$575

6506

Sea Lion Beach Ball (4x1)

10

$600

6507

Sea Lion Squeeze Horn

10

$600

6508

Sea Lion Raft (4x1)

10

$600

6510

Sea Otter Ball (4x1)

10

$600

6511

Sea Otter Hoop (4x1)

10

$600

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ReproductionChance:

High

SickChance:

5

ReproductionInterval(months):

9

SickChange:

-12

HappyReproduceThreshold:

95

DeathChance:

10

Offspring:

1

TimeDeath(months):

36

BabyToAdult(months):

4

SkipTrickHappiness:

50

SkipTrickChance:

10

SalinityChange:

-10

SalinityHealthChange:

-20

PooWaterImpact:

5

MurkyWaterThreshold:

60

MurkyWaterChange:

-5

MurkyWaterHealthChange:

-5

VeryMurkyWaterThreshold:

20

ExtremelyMurkyWaterThreshold

1

VeryMurkyWaterChange:

-10

ExtremelyMurkyWaterChange

-15

VeryMurkyWaterHealthChange:

-10

ExtremelyMurkyWaterHealthChange:

-15

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Compatible Animals

Prey Animals

none

KeeperFoodType:

Polar Bear

Bengal Tiger

Siberian Tiger

Grizzly Bear

Hippopotamus

Emporer Penguin

California Sea Lion

Saltwater Crocodile

White Bengal Tiger

Asian Elephant

Giant Tortoise (Meiolania)

Great White Shark

Bottlenose Dolphin

Lion's Mane Jelly

Elephant Seal

Narwhal

Harbor Porpoise

Hammerhead Shark

Tiger Shark

Shortfin Mako Shark

Green Moray Eel

Beluga

Southern Sea Otter

Pacific Octopus

West Indian Manatee

Pacific Walrus

Manta Ray

Green Sea Turtle

Swordfish

Giant Squid

Bluefin Tuna

Great Barracuda

Man

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?