A matrilineal group is the foundation, or basic unit of resident killer whales, and consists of a female and her offspring. This group will be inseperable over the course of their lifetime. Subpods Subpods are formed when daughters in a pod have their own offspring and form new maternal groups. These new maternal groupings will remain together and travel within their matrilineal groups. Pod Moving up in the social organization of killer whales, is the pod.
Pods consist of subpods that travel with one another.
Pods can be distinguished based on different vocalizations, and contains between one and five subpods and between ten and fifty whales. The next level of social structure is known as a clan. Clans consist of pods with vocal dialects that are related to one another. At the highest level of killer whale social stucture is a community, made up of pods that have been seen travelling together during research studies. Pods from one community have not been seen to travel with those from another community.