Friday, April 23, 2010

New species of killer whales


A new study has found strong genetic evidence which points to the presence of several different species of killer whales in the world's oceans. The research has appeared in the journal Genome Research.Scientists have suspected for some time that there was more than one species of killer whales because of differences in behaviour, feeding preferences and subtle physical features. But until now DNA analysis has been inconclusive because of the inability to map the entire genetic picture, or genome, of the whales' mitochondria inherited from the mother. As a result of the study, two types of killer whales in the Antarctic that eat fish and seals, respectively, are suggested as separate species, along with mammal-eating "transient" killer whales in the North Pacific.

http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report_several-new-species-of-killer-whales-likely-to-be-found-in-oceans_1374822

No comments:

Post a Comment