Date of Graduation

Spring 2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

Committee Chairperson

Michael Rosario, PhD

Committee Member

Michael Rosario, PhD

Committee Member

Gregory Turner, PhD

Committee Member

Jennifer Maresh, PhD

Abstract

Although the killer whale (Orcinus orca) is a cosmopolitan apex predator, very little work has been done on its feeding biomechanics. Here I use finite element analysis to investigate the mandibular stiffness of a juvenile male Bigg’s killer whale, and compare it to that of the false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) and the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Full mandibles and left and right halves of mandibles are simulated under FEA. I also estimate the total jaw muscle force produced by the Bigg’s killer whale using the dry skull method. The killer whale lacks an especially stiff mandible in comparison to the false killer whale and saltwater crocodile. Consequently, the killer whale appears to lack a particularly powerful bite for a predator of its skull size. Both the killer whale and false killer whale’s mandibles were stiffer when simulated whole than when simulated in half. The lack of any clear specializations in jaw stiffness or bite strength may be related to the relative size of most of the killer whale’s prey relative to itself, as well as its pack hunting behavior.

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