Killer Whales
Killer whales are often known as Orca. Killer whales are the
largest of the dolphins and one of the world's most powerful predators. They
feast on marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, fish, squid, seabirds and
even other whales. Their teeth can reach up to four inches (ten centimeters) long.
The Killer whale's skin is
mostly black with distinctive white patches. Orcas have stocky bodies and a
rounded head with a distinctive beak. They have a tall, falcate (sickle-shaped)
dorsal fin and large, paddle-like flippers. The dorsal fin of the male is
taller (up to 6 feet tall) and more upright than that of the female (whose
dorsal fin is up to 4 feet tall).
Orcas live in small pods of
6-40 whales; they are very social animals. The bonds between the close-knit
members of Orca pods are strong and last for life. The members of a pod hunt
together in a very sophisticated manner, attacking even very large prey and
then sharing it. The pod members protect the young, the sick and the injured.
Orcas
breathe air at the surface of the water through a blowhole located near the top
of the head.
Male
orcas have a life expectancy of 50-60 years. Females have a life expectancy of
90 years. Calves are about 8 feet at birth.
QUICK facts of the
killer whale
Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore
Average lifespan in
the wild: 50 to 90 years
Size: 27-33 feet (8-10 m)
Weight: More than 8,000-12,000
pounds (3.600-5.400 kg)
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE KILLER WHALE
- Killer whales can eat up to 3 percent of their body weight each day. For an adult, that
can mean from 100 to 300 pounds of food.
- Mature females are the dominant whales in a pod. Female orcas outnumber males
4-to-1
- Killer whales are apex or top predators in the ocean. Known as "wolves of the
sea", killer whales often hunt cooperatively in pods for food; working together
to encircle and herd prey into a small area before attacking. When hunting a
large whale, a pod of killer whales may attack the whale from several angles.
They may also slide out onto sandbars or ice floes in pursuit of prey and are
capable of hitting ice floes from below to knock prey into the water.
