Killer whale facts!
Take a deep breath, gang – because we’re diving to the depths of the ocean with some cool killer whale facts!
Fast killer whale facts
Scientific name: Orcinus orca
Family name: Delphinidae
Classification: Mammal
IUCN status: Data deficient
Lifespan (in wild): 50-90 years
Weight: Males up to 9,000kg. Females up to 5,500kg
Head and body length: Males up to 9.8m. Females up to 8.5m
Top speed: 55km/h
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Ocean
Range:
Eight tonnes of pure power whacks an ice floe floating in cold Arctic waters. The seal lying on top of the ice doesn’t stand a chance. Knocked into the sea, the seal becomes a meal for one of the ocean’s top predators – the huge killer whale!
Killer whales, also called orcas, hunt everything from fish to walruses – seals, sea lions, penguins, squid, sea turtles, sharks and even other kinds of whales are all on their menu. Depending on the season and where they are, their diet varies – some eat plenty of fish and squid, others feast mostly on seals and penguins. But wherever they are in any of the world’s oceans, average-sized killer whales may eat about 227 kilograms of food a day!
These mega marine mammals have many hunting techniques, and bumping seals off ice is just one of them. Often referred to as ‘wolves of the sea’, killer whales live and hunt together in ‘pods’, or family groups, much like a pack of wolves.
Working together as they hunt, groups of killer whales cooperate to herd fish into a compact area so that they’re easier to gobble up. They will also slap their tails onto the water’s surface, causing a wave to wash prey (such as penguins or sea lions) off ice floes and into the water.
Sometimes, a pod of whales will join forces to surround a larger animal, such as a blue whale. They chase, bite and wear it down until it becomes weak enough for them to feast on.
Killer whales have around 45 teeth (each around 7.6 centimeters long), which are shaped for ripping and tearing prey. Instead of chewing their food, they take one big gulp – and believe it or not, these brilliant beasts can swallow small seals and sea lions whole! Bigger prey is ripped into chunks before being eaten.
Scientists believe the colour pattern of killer whales may help them sneak up on and attack their prey. Their backs are black, and their stomachs are white. Animals looking down on this powerful predator from above, such as a seal on an ice floe, might not see it because the whale’s dark back blends with the water below.
On the other hand, the killer whale’s white underside blends with the light streaming down into the sea from the surface, making it hard to spot from below. Such cool camouflage means prey like fish, penguins and seals are likely to miss the danger heading their way. Crafty, eh?!
Credits – Text adapted from feature by Catherine D. Hughes
Photos – Orca breaching, side: Monika Wieland, Shutterstock. Orca breeching, belly: Bspujari, Dreamstime. Group of orcas: Ivkovich, Shutterstock. Orca with head out of water. Tom Middleton, Shutterstock. Others: Getty.
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COMMENTS1
gracemarie1
nice
cool
lachlan.primus
Preston
AWSOME
E
This is a good article for studying for school or just basic learning. I approve.
every one i love killer wales
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molly
love it
love it. isn't it great. its so cool to lean about killer whales.
molly
awesome its great
Granny
Maddie
Wow!
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libby
cool
libby
cool
CODY
Iris
AWESOME!
Bob
Rohan
Cool
Gamer2.0
THIS IS AWESOME!!
Aadya
Aadya
Lucas
THIS IS SO COOL.You guys are so smart!!
Lucas
This is sooo COOL.I mean really !!
Rebecca
Cool
Ryan
Cool
Brielle
awsome!
HI everyone
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grace
blows my mind
WOW amazing
WOW
Jairo Alfonso Garibay Ibarra
Me gustó mucho saber todo lo que pueden hacer las ballenas asesinas,como de un bocado se pueden tragar hasta un león marino y como cazan juntas
nice
Sina
Thank you
?????
do killer whales kill?
jordy
cool man
Killer whale facts for kids – 24LINE.NET
[…] Source […]
Memes
Cool
Goldie
so cool
Kaia
COOL
Munchkin
This is an amazing website with so much to look at and learn about.
Nicole
I am really enjoying this website. Thank you.
Love
bad
henry
you are the best ever
emily
Great Facts!!!Can u do more??
Grace
Save the. Wales
Ismail Al-Abdallah
Thanks for the feedback
philipe
yay! this fun!
Poop
Realy helpful
Salil
WOW!
AWESOME
Violet
How do they hunt??
Wales are the best i love wales #1
aaliyah
good
RILEY
# orca
this so cool reading this and the killer whales are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cool
Alec Kirby
Killer whales are soooooooooooo cool !!!
taylor
they must be hungry imagine eating 227 kilograms of food a day.
Cleo
It's so awesome that u can learn about all the animals
sienna
orca are so cool!
TurtlZ
Killer whales are actually dolphins.
Summer
I❤️Killerwhales
Summer
Killer whales are so awesome ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Jacksons
AWESOME killer whales are so cool to learn about
E.N
Super cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saia
Killer whales are cool
Super
Wow it is so cool what killer whales can do.
Molly
I love Ora's so much
Holly
I love killer whales
may
this was so awesome i love it
killer whales are a type of dolfin not whales
Looby2
These facts are awesome! despite their names killer whales are actually dolphins!
MC
Thanks for Facts. :)
Tomas
I love killer whales! One of my fav animals! Funny how they're not actually whales,they're dolphins!
Epic
Killer whales are my favourite sea animal
Lalitha
They are awesome
Lily
I Love Whales.There awesome animals
LP
I definetly will like this page. I love animals! Fun Facts: Killer whales are also called 'Ocars'. Killer whales can kill you, thats why they are called 'KILLER' whales.
Nazu
I love killer whales
Buster Hicks
It makes me sad that killer whales eat penguins
Solomon
Cool
thebigcheese
killer whales are my fav animal
jeff
nice
Narayan Pillai
All these sick animals are so cool and who ever posted this thing is cool
Tim
I liked the killer whale facts.
levini
cool facts about killer wales
Lydia Colback
I love diving deeper into the water with all these beautiful creatures
jodie
i love orcas
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