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Description
A Guide

Basic info
River Orcas are a very unique subspecies of orca found only in fresh water. The largest concentration of the population has been found in the rivers of South America and the surrounding bodies of water.
A small subspecies has also been witnessed in the waters of China, but very little is known about that particular population.

There is not a large number of estimated river orca population in the wild, however, due to such large portions of South America remaining undiscovered, it is hard to say just how many individuals there are. Scientist estimate as few as a couple thousand animals actually exist.
Along with their river dolphin cousins, it is believed that the river orca may be threatened by endangerment.

River Orca Life

River orca live in small, close knit families that usually include 5 to 10 individuals. They are led by a dominate female. Several members of the pod tend to be calves and their mothers.

Breeding season takes place during the rainy months and only lasts for a few months a year.
Fully mature males will leave their 'home pods' during the rainy months to breed with other pod females.

The gestation period lasts an average of 18 months.

The offspring of River orca are dependent on their mothers until they're five or six years old and nurse till they're they're three.
Just like their salt water cousins, River orca offspring usually spend their entire lives with their mothers.

River orca calves are fully grown and mature between the ages of 9 and 12. Males can father calves by the time they have reached full maturity at the age of 9. Females do not start calving until they are 15 years old.

The average River orca lifespan is roughly 45 years old for both male and female. However there are some individuals known to live up to almost 60 years old. This is a very rare occurrence though and the only individuals guessed to live this long were female.

River orca feed on a variety of fish and reptiles that inhabit their home waters. They are skittish of humans and very rarely interact with them. They have been known, however, to join small groups of amazon river dolphins to hunt for periods of time. No aggression has ever been shown between the two cousin species.

River orca genetics

River orca come in a small variety of colors.

Primarily they come in a solid dark brown with cream colored markings. This is simply referred to as the primary coloration. (Shown Above)

There is a unique and semi common mutation that causes the dark brown coloration to become lighter. This mutation occurs in 2 out of 5 individuals and it is uncertain yet as to what causes the mutation. This is referred to as the secondary coloration. sta.sh/01qvdl9vbb8h

There is a very rare mutation referred to as the 'white gene' where a river orca experiences 'reversed' coloration. Their main body color is creamy white and their markings occur in dark brown. This mutation occurs in 1 out of 50 individuals. It seems to be an occurrence that happens after a breeding of two secondary colored individuals. It is unknown as to what causes this particular mutation. sta.sh/01iw4o48w85u

The final mutation is referred to as the 'mottled gene." It is a mutation that causes a primary coloration to show a bit of secondary coloration as well. This is a rare mutation that occurs in 1 out of 100 individuals. It only occurs after an animal with a 'white gene' and a primary colored animal connive a calf, and only if the 'white gene' carrier is female. sta.sh/015c5rnzsn9e

River orca in captivity

River orca have only been held in captivity a handful of reordered times. They seem to be very susceptible in captivity and require quite a bit of
attention. They seem to be naturally skittish of humans and are difficult to train, even for basic behaviors. Dorsal fin collapse happens within weeks of being in captivity due to the particularly weak and wobbly structures.

****

This is a fictional species and belongs only to me. It is not to be used without my permission.
This is a closed species and you may not make one without expressed permission.

Description
A Guide

Basic info
River Orcas are a very unique subspecies of orca found only in fresh water. The largest concentration of the population has been found in the rivers of South America and the surrounding bodies of water.
A small subspecies has also been witnessed in the waters of China, but very little is known about that particular population.

There is not a large number of estimated river orca population in the wild, however, due to such large portions of South America remaining undiscovered, it is hard to say just how many individuals there are. Scientist estimate as few as a couple thousand animals actually exist.
Along with their river dolphin cousins, it is believed that the river orca may be threatened by endangerment.

River Orca Life

River orca live in small, close knit families that usually include 5 to 10 individuals. They are led by a dominate female. Several members of the pod tend to be calves and their mothers.

Breeding season takes place during the rainy months and only lasts for a few months a year.
Fully mature males will leave their 'home pods' during the rainy months to breed with other pod females.

The gestation period lasts an average of 18 months.

The offspring of River orca are dependent on their mothers until they're five or six years old and nurse till they're they're three.
Just like their salt water cousins, River orca offspring usually spend their entire lives with their mothers.

River orca calves are fully grown and mature between the ages of 9 and 12. Males can father calves by the time they have reached full maturity at the age of 9. Females do not start calving until they are 15 years old.

The average River orca lifespan is roughly 45 years old for both male and female. However there are some individuals known to live up to almost 60 years old. This is a very rare occurrence though and the only individuals guessed to live this long were female.

River orca feed on a variety of fish and reptiles that inhabit their home waters. They are skittish of humans and very rarely interact with them. They have been known, however, to join small groups of amazon river dolphins to hunt for periods of time. No aggression has ever been shown between the two cousin species.

River orca genetics

River orca come in a small variety of colors.

Primarily they come in a solid dark brown with cream colored markings. This is simply referred to as the primary coloration. (Shown Above)

There is a unique and semi common mutation that causes the dark brown coloration to become lighter. This mutation occurs in 2 out of 5 individuals and it is uncertain yet as to what causes the mutation. This is referred to as the secondary coloration. sta.sh/01qvdl9vbb8h

There is a very rare mutation referred to as the 'white gene' where a river orca experiences 'reversed' coloration. Their main body color is creamy white and their markings occur in dark brown. This mutation occurs in 1 out of 50 individuals. It seems to be an occurrence that happens after a breeding of two secondary colored individuals. It is unknown as to what causes this particular mutation. sta.sh/01iw4o48w85u

The final mutation is referred to as the 'mottled gene." It is a mutation that causes a primary coloration to show a bit of secondary coloration as well. This is a rare mutation that occurs in 1 out of 100 individuals. It only occurs after an animal with a 'white gene' and a primary colored animal connive a calf, and only if the 'white gene' carrier is female. sta.sh/015c5rnzsn9e

River orca in captivity

River orca have only been held in captivity a handful of reordered times. They seem to be very susceptible in captivity and require quite a bit of
attention. They seem to be naturally skittish of humans and are difficult to train, even for basic behaviors. Dorsal fin collapse happens within weeks of being in captivity due to the particularly weak and wobbly structures.

****

This is a fictional species and belongs only to me. It is not to be used without my permission.
This is a closed species and you may not make one without expressed permission.