The northern resident community is comprised of three clans
A, G and R, with a total of 16 pods and 34 matrilines.
Matrilines are named first after the senior living matriarch
of the group. Thus as an example, the matriarch A11, her sons and
daughters and grandsons and granddaughters, all belong to the A11
matriline. When reference is made to specific reproductive daughters in
the matriline, and their offsspring, these "submatrilines" ar identified
with the grandmother and mother's name. Thus, A35, daughter of A11, and
A35's offspring are referred to as the A11-A35 matriline. Upon death of
the senior matriarch, her name is dropped from the descendant matriline's
name, unless sons or non-reproductive daughters of the matriarch survive,
in which case the original matriarch's identity is retained in the
matriline's name. E.g. A36 matriline. This matriline lost its matriarch
Sophia (A36) in 1997. It now consist of only three males and will die out
in time.
Learn more about the matrilines of the northern resident community by
following the links at the sidebar
Northern Residents Catalogue
Dialects Different orca populatios
can be distinguished by the kinds of underwater communication sounds the
produce. These vocal variations, known as dialects, can provide important
clues about the relationships of groups and populations. Each group a
orcas produces a specific number and type of discrete calls, which
together form its dialect. Each pod of resident orcas has a unique dialect
that can be readily identified by the trained aer or sound analyzer.
Within the resident population, pods with related dialects belong to a
clan. Different clans have no dialect features in common.
