2422: orca, killer whale, and grampus Aug 8, 2021

Killer whales named because they are whale killers. This observation was made even in ancient times, and among their multiple, varied names, the Spanish 'ballena asesina' literally means 'whale murderess' (it is grammatically feminine), since sailors noted that they would hunt in packs to kill whales. Both English and Spanish also use the alternative 'orca' from Latin but this isn't much less fearsome. This name comes from mythology of the underworld, and the Roman deity 'Orcus', also the namesake of ogres and orcs. Thus, the scientific name 'Orcinus orca' would translate as "orca [evil deity], of the kingdom of the underworld". Perhaps the nicest names are now mostly out of fashion, including grampus (literally 'fat-fish') and 'blackfish'.