The following is a key to help you interpret the family relationships in killer whale groups. A1 pod of the A-Clan A-Clan A clan refers to pods that are linked by sharing a similar vocal dialect and have probably descended from a common ancestral group. A-clan is one of three clans in the Northern resident community. A- Pod A pod is a group of related whales that tends to travel together most of the time. The A1 pod is one of ten pods in the A-clan and had 15 whales in the 1998 field census. A12 - Subpod A subpod is part of a pod that always travels together. Each subpod is a closely related family unit comprised of a matriarch and her offspring. A12 Scimitar (F:1941) Scimitar (A12), is the matriarch of the A12 subpod. The code shown above her name (F:1941) indicates that she is female and scientists estimate she was born in 1941. The two whales shown below are her two surviving offspring Nimpkish (A33) and Simoom (A34). As with all killer whales in the resident population, Nimpkish (A33) and Simoom's (A34) father is unknown. A33 Nimpkish (M:1971) Nimpkish (A33) he is an adult male killer whale thought to have been born in 1971. He will travel with his mother Scimitar (A12) and sister Simoom (A34) and her offspring throughout his life. A34 Simoom (F:1975) Simoom (A34) is an adult female killer whale born in 1975. The three whales shown below Simoom (A34) are her offspring. A55 Echo (M:1990) Echo (A55) is a young male killer whale born in 1990. Normally researchers would have had to wait until Echo reached sexual maturity, at around age 14, to determine his gender but new techniques in DNA sampling have allowed them to determine the gender of both Echo (A55) and his sister Misty (A62). A62 Misty (F:1993) Misty (A62) is a young female killer whale born in 1993. Like her grandmother Scimitar (A12) and her mother Simoom (A34), she will likely become a mother and may eventually become a matriarch of her own subpod. A67 Eclipse (?:1997) Simoom's youngest calf, Eclipse (A67) was born in 1997. Researchers have not yet collected any DNA and therefore the question mark indicates that they have not determined the gender of Eclipse (A67). Click here for more information on other B.C. killer whale pods All pictures and audio © Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre 1999 Adopt a Whale | Family Trees | Conservation | The Blackfish Sounder|