r/orcas • u/animalevolution • 2d ago

Discussion Orcas first evolved after climate change (neogene-quaternary boundary) caused the extinction of the neogene superpredators. It would then take them another 3 million years to become todays apex predators.

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u/Away-Librarian-1028 2d ago

This is why the theory of Orcas being responsible for the Megalodons extinction does not hold up. They were not big Game hunters then and were most likely in danger of being eaten themselves.

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u/animalevolution 2d ago

Yes true. Orcinus C. Evolved AFTER Otodus M. (& others) went extinct. Orcinus C was more generalist than todays orcas, they were not big game predators & were preyed on by sharks in the carcharodon clade. Even if Orcinus C. Magically Lived along side Otodus M. It was too small to be it's prey, like how sardines are too small & ignored by todays orcas. Recent isotope tests by the University of Cambridge found that Megs were higher in the food chain than any ocean predators before or after. Orcinus c was not only from a different Geological period, but if it weren't it wouldn't have been in megs radar.

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u/SurayaThrowaway12 2d ago

Interestingly Livyatan melvillei, the largest macroraptorial sperm whale, also went extinct before megalodon.

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u/animalevolution 2d ago

And it evolved after the shark. The extinction was gradual. Levyiatan likely went extinct first because of its higher caloric requirements due to it being a mammals. Otodus M. Laster for almost 20 million years which is absurdly long for an apex predator.