Killer whale

Habitat & Distribution Killer whales inhabit all oceans of the world. Next to humans and perhaps the brown rat ( Rattus norvegicus), killer whales are the most widely distributed mammal. Populations have been documented foraging for long periods of time in shallow coastal and inter-tidal flats in just a few meters of water. While killer whales can be found around the world, they are much more common in highly productive areas of cold-water upwelling; including the Pacific Northwest, along northern Norway's coast in the Atlantic, and the higher latitudes of the Southern Ocean. In addition to being found in colder water, killer whales also have been seen in warm water areas such as Florida, Hawaii, Australia, the Galapagos Islands, the Bahamas, and the Gulf of Mexico, and more temperate waters such as New Zealand and South Africa. Such sightings are infrequent, but they do demonstrate the killer whales' ability to venture into tropical waters. Rarely, killer whales have been seen in fresh water rivers around the world such as the Rhine, the Thames, and the Elbe. One even traveled some 177 km (110 mi.) up the Columbia River in pursuit of fish. Documented sightings of killer whales indicated in dark blue. Distribution Depending on the ecotype, killer whales may exploit a variety of habitats, from shallow coastal areas to deep waters off the continental shelf. • Killer whales are found in the open ocean, but they seem to be most abundant in coastal waters. • Killer whales are m...

See orcas in the waters off Shetland Islands, Scotland killer whale, ( Orcinus orca), also called orca, largest member of the Natural history The largest males attain a length of more than 10 metres (32.8 feet) and a weight of about 9,800 kg (about 10 metric tons or 11 short [U.S.] tons), whereas females reach about 8.5 metres (27.8 feet) and weigh significantly less than males. Males also have proportionally larger appendages, with flippers up to 2 metres (6.6 feet) long—approximately 20 percent of the body length—and almost 1 metre (3.3 feet) wide. Flipper length among females is 11–13 percent of body length. The Orcinus orca) Known to be highly Homo sapiens), short-finned Globicephala macrorhynchus), false killer whales ( Pseudorca crassidens), Delphinapterus leucas), and Monodon monoceros)—that experience see see also Evolution The evolutionary record of the genus Orcinus is scanty. The earliest O. citonensis from the Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Although the Pseudorca crassidens), pygmy killer whale ( Feresa attenuata), Risso’s dolphin ( Grampus griseus), and Globicephala species) have been thought to be relatives of the killer whale. Killer whales are sometimes assigned to one or another subfamily of the Delphinidae: Orcininae (killer whales and kin) or Globicephalinae (pilot whales and kin). More than 20 O. orca. Killer whales were formerly referred to as Evidence suggests that O. orca is in the process of

Orcas are incredibly popular as they are the most widely distributed of all whales and dolphins, found in every single ocean! They are very familiar with their black and white colouring but actually, depending on where they live, have very different appearances, behaviour, ways of communicating and diet! Find out some amazing facts below about the incredible orcas. Ten facts about orcas (killer whales) • Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family. • A male orca can be nearly 33 feet (10 meters) in length and weigh around 22,000 pounds (10,000kg). • Orcas are highly intelligent and able to coordinate hunting tactics. • Female orcas are thought to live to 80 years of age or more. • The dorsal fin of a male orca is up to 6 feet (2 meters) tall. • Orcas are extremely fast swimmers and have been recorded at speeds of up to 33.5 mph (54 kph). • A wild orca pod can cover over 99 miles (160 kilometers) a day, foraging and socializing. • They were give the name "killer whale" by ancient sailors who saw them preying on large whales. • Orcas are still hunted in some countries, such as Greenland. • Different kinds of orcas are called "ecotypes". They hunt specific prey and live in different parts of the world. Why are orcas called 'killer whales' when they are dolphins? What do orcas eat? Looking at all populations, orcas are generalist eaters, consuming fish, seals and sea lions, dolphins and porpoises, sharks and rays, large whales, cephalopods (octopods and squids), seabird...

What do orcas look like? If you’re an eight-metre-long, six-tonne predator, sneaking up on a tasty herring can be a tricky business. Which is where an orca’s black-and-white colouring is useful. This patterning works like camouflage, from above and below. It breaks up their appearance and makes them harder to see in the water. But above water, orcas’ tall dorsal fins make them easy to spot when they’re swimming close to the surface. Males have longer dorsal fins – up to two metres – that’s taller than most humans. What’s life like for an orca? Orcas live in family pods of up to 50 individuals. Calves do not leave their mothers’ sides when they become adults, and you’ll sometimes find pods containing four generations. The eldest female orca is in charge, telling the group when and where to feed. To be a successful orca, you need to master a huge range of skills: hunting tactics, social interaction, knowledge of feeding and breeding grounds, and migration routes. Adult members of the pod teach the young these essential life skills, and one day they will pass on these skills to their own children. This knowledge forms a kind of orca ‘culture’, handed down from generation to generation. What do orcas eat? Orcas hunt in packs, co-ordinating their feeding raids with incredible skill. They eat a variety of different prey, including fish, seals, dolphins, sharks, rays, whales, octopuses and squids. But often a pod will specialise in eating just one type of animal. For instance, on...

Killer Whale Profile Orcas (Orcinus orca), often called Killer Whales, are actually the worlds biggest dolphins and are members of the Delphinidae family which also includes species such as Bottlenose Dolphins and Pilot Whales. They inhabit most of the world’s oceans, ranging from the equator to the polar regions. It’s thought they got the misnomer “Killer Whale” from sailors who saw them hunting whales. Killer Whale Facts Overview Habitat: Most often in coastal waters but found in open waters as well. Location: Ranging from the equator to the polar regions. Lifespan: In the wild, females can live to be 100 years old, while males can live as long as 60 years. Size: Females: 5-7m, Males: 6-8m Weight: Females: 1,400-2,700kg, Males: 3,600-5,400kg Color: Black & white Diet: Fish, penguins and marine mammals (seals, sea lion and sometimes whales) Predators: As apex predators, they have no known natural predators. Top Speed: 56 km/h (35 mph) No. of Species: 1 Conservation Status: Insufficient data While they are still currently categorised as one species, scientists are now beginning to recognise that there are multiple types of Orca, which are likely sub-species or even different species all together. Orcas are aquatic mammals (cetaceans), so they are warm-blooded and breath air. They are apex predators, meaning they are at the top of the food chain, and they often hunt marine mammals (seals, sealions etc), fish and penguins. They have complex social structures, some form pods ...

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! Love animals? You’d love our magazine! Ask your parents to check out Nat Geo Kids magazine! (AD) 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 t...

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