Top Killer Whale Facts

Top Killer Whale Facts

1.     Killer Whales are cetaceans which belong to the order Delphinidae. This means that they are “Dolphins” regardless the word “whale” is in its name.

 

2.     As consequence, Killer Whales are the largest dolphin.

 

3.     Orcas are called "Killer Whales" because they feed on several other marine mammals, like seals or dolphins, not because they kill people.

 

4.     Killer Whales are aquatic mammals. They nurse their babies with milk from their mothers.

 

5.     As mammals, Killer Whales need to breathe air from the top of the ocean, they cannot breathe under water like fish.

 

6.     Killer Whales are very good swimmers. They are capable to travel up to 30 mph. and reach deep waters.

 

7.     Killer Whales eat up to 5% of their body weight each day. This averages out to over 500 pounds of food for each Killer Whale.

 

8.     Killer whales are grouped in pods, the base of their social structure formed by 6 to 40 individuals.

9.     Killer Whales gestation period is around 16 to 17 months and they usually give birth to only one calf.

10. While some accidents have occurred with Killer Whales in captivity, there isn’t any record of a killer whale attacking a human.

 

11. Killer whales have a unique mark behind its dorsal fin. These marks help scientist to distinguish each Killer whale while researching.

 

12. Killer whales communicate through different vocalizations specific to each pod.

 

13. Killer whales are found in all oceans in the world, but most of them are found in cooler waters.

 

14. Killer whales brain is five times larger than humans. They are very social, intelligent, and curious.

 

15. Killer whales spend 60% of their time foraging for food.

 

16. Killer whales do not migrate, but they have been known to travel hundreds of miles to find fresh food.

 

17. The life expectancy of a killer whale in the wild is 50 - 60 years for males, and up to 90 years for females, however, killer whales in captivity live less than 30 years.