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Dialects
Killer Whale Orcinus orca dialects can differ between pods because the similarity of the call distinguishes one pod from another. Dialects are typically created within the orca's birth pod. Differences between dialects can be not only between pods but between ecotypes, which are specific populations within a species that have a geographical and genetic variability. There is variability in whistle communication between fish eating or 'resident' killer whales and mammal eating or 'transient' killer whales. These whales share the same habitat, however their whistles differ in usage and parameters. Transient orcas vocalize less complex whistles as well as communicating more so during hunting prey. Transient orcas also are more selective towards who they communicate with during spotting and or killing prey in order to prevent eavesdropping from competing orcas, particularly resident killer whales (Riesch, R. & Deecke, V.B.). Less complexity within the transient whistle are used because the aren't as likely to be detected in comparison to calls. Free-ranging juvenile killer whales don't use a variety of close-range calls, seen between juvenile-juvenile orca interactions. This may be because the young killer whale has yet to learn how to effectively communicate or due to vocal plasticity, in which they would 'weed out' the calls they don't use in particular situations.

There are distinct vocalizations that an be categorized as "group signatures" or vocalizations that are similar across the orca's ancestry. Even if the ancestry is of different origins, i.e. Canadian or Icelandic free-ranging orcas, there is a strong similarity in vocalizations from the current generation. This would suggest a complexity within the vocalization of captive orcas that enables them to emit sounds much like their partners.These vocalizations within pods or groups of orcas have been traced over a 27 year period. These findings were discovered by comparing the emission of call types between related free-range orcas and the same whales within a social setting. Within multipods, dominant call types decrease and subset call types increase. The use of both call types is called biphonation. The increased subset call types may be the distinguishing factor between pods and inter-pod relations. Dialects of killer whales not only distinguish them between pods, but also from feeding types. Mentioned afore, fish eating (piscivorous), and mammal eating orcas have differing whistles. The surface activity, such as feeding, traveling, and more, can also correlate with differences in vocalized acoustics. It's important to note that in this study, the killer whales were specifically piscivorous and may not apply to all killer whales. Results show that orcas communicate the least while traveling, moderately so while doing various other activities, and the most while feeding.