Killer Whale or orca (Orcinus orca): the largest member of the family Delphinidae, or dolphins
Despite what its name “killer whale” might imply, the orca is a member of the dolphin family
Members of the Delphinidae family include all species of dolphins, as well as long-finned pilot whales and short-finned pilot whales, whose common names also contain “whale” instead of “dolphin “
It is the largest member of the dolphin family
The largest recorded male killer whale was 32 feet long and weighed 22,000 pounds
The largest recorded female was 28 feet long and weighed 16,500 pounds
Adult male killer whales are larger than females
Depending on their ecotype, the size of killer whales can vary greatly
Killer whales are one of the most recognizable marine mammals, with a distinctive black body with a white underside
This color helps to hide it as a potential predator to other animals
Like penguins, killer whales are counter-shaded with a darker upper surface and a lighter underside
When viewed from above, a killer whale blends into the darker ocean, and when viewed from below, the lighter surface of the belly blends into the lighter surface of the sea
The diet of a killer whale depends on its population and region
They are the only known predators of great white sharks
Killer whales eat fish and squid
They also hunt seals, seabirds, and other types of whales, including ones larger than themselves
Killer whales are known as the wolves of the sea, mainly because of their hunting behavior
Their diets depend on the region they live in and the pod’s hunting strategy
These highly intelligent cetaceans have been documented creating large waves to wash seals off ice floes, and even intentionally beaching themselves to catch prey on shore
Killer whales are found in a variety of habitats around the world, including both open sea and coastal waters
Killer whales are found in every ocean in the world, making them some of the most widely distributed of whales and dolphins
The reproductive patterns of killer whales in the wild are difficult to study; so much remains unknown
Therefore, most of the information known about killer whale reproduction comes from marine zoological parks
Female killer whales reach sexual maturity between 7 and 16 years of age, while males reach sexual maturity between 10 and 175 years of age and typically do not reproduce until age 21
Female killer whales come into estrus several times a year
The female will mate with a male from another pod
The female usually gives birth to a calf
In some populations, it has been observed that all members of the pod will help raise the calf
Female orcas typically give birth to one calf every five years
They usually have several breeding partners throughout their lives
A female orca will undergo menopause at the age of 40 years
They are one of the few animals that undergo menopause and live for decades afterward
The estimated lifespan of wild females is on average 50 to 80 years, and some live longer
Meanwhile, wild males live about 29 years on average, with a maximum of about 60 years
Killer whales are very social creatures
They spend most of their lives swimming in groups of family members
Although the size and characteristics of a group of killer whales vary depending on location, the close relationship between a mother and her offspring is commonly observed in long-term studies of killer whale populations
Around the world, killer whales have also been observed to have matrilineal social structures, which is a group of killer whales connected through the mother like a mother with her male and female offspring
The matriline may also include the offspring of her daughters
The social structures of North Pacific resident killer whale populations are some of the best studied
In these populations, the matriline is the main group, where the bonds are very strong and stable
A matriline may consist of only one generation to four generations of related whales
The next level of social structure observed in resident whales of the North Pacific is the pod
A pod is a group of related matrilines that travel together
Pods are less stable and a matrilineal group may separate from the pod for long periods of time
Above the pod is a social level called a clan, which consists of pods in a similar area
The highest level of society is called a community, which is a group of killer whales that have a common range and regularly interact with each other
The life span of a killer whale is from 30 to 90 years
The biggest threats to killer whales include commercial hunting and culling to protect fisheries from killer whales
Although the live capture of killer whales for aquarium displays and marine parks no longer occurs in the United States, it remains a worldwide threat
Other threats to killer whales include food limitations, chemical contaminants, and disturbances from vessel traffic and noise
Following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, the population of killer whales found in the eastern North Pacific was reduced from 22 to 7 whales
In the United States, the population of killer whales known as Southern Residents in the eastern North Pacific is considered endangered
Following live capture in the 1960s for use in marine mammal parks, 71 South Resident killer whales remained in 1974
The number has been up and down in recent decades, with the 2020 population census counting only 72 whales and three new calves born following the census bringing the total number of this struggling population to 75
There is insufficient data to classify the status of killer whales, according to the IUCN Red List
NOAA Fisheries estimates that there are approximately 50,000 killer whales worldwide
In recent decades, some populations of killer whales have declined and some populations have become endangered
Conservation efforts critical to protecting the species include establishing critical habitat, setting protective regulations, and restoring prey stocks
All killer whale populations are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, which made it illegal to hunt or harass marine mammals in the United States
NOAA Fisheries is working with its partners toward killer whale conservation through further research and development of regulations and management plans
In the United States, the only endangered killer whale population is the Southern Resident killer whale, which ranges from central California to southeastern Alaska
The population is featured as one of NOAA Fisheries’ Species in the Spotlight, which includes animals considered most at risk for extinction and prioritizing their recovery efforts
Killer whales, also known as Orcas, are the largest members of the dolphin family
So how much do killer whales weigh?
Males are larger than females, weighing between 8,000 to 12,000 pounds (3,628 to 5,443 kg)
There are instances of males weighing up to 22,000 pounds (9,979 kg)
Females weigh between 3,000 to 8,000 pounds (1,360 to 3,628 kg)
Newborn killer whale calves are also large, reaching weights of 300 to 400 pounds (136 to 181 kg)
Interesting Information on the Killer Whale:
This is due not only to their large size, but their unique black and white color
Big, fast, and fearsome, these carnivores are the ultimate predators
They are at the top of the food chain in the underwater environment where they live
Sharks, whales, seals, squid, sea lions, and an array of other marine life are no match for these large sea mammals
To make their prey even worse, killer whales are clever hunters
Are Killer Whales Endangered?
Killer whales are not currently an endangered species
However, there were concerns for killer whales in the twentieth century, when they were targeted by commercial fishing companies
Do Killer Whales Eat People?
Like humans, killer whales are very sociable
In situations where this occurs, it is usually due to a misunderstanding; as in, a killer whale mistakes a human for another sea creature
~ Fun Fact ~You may not realize that killer whales are fast swimmers
They are known to swim as fast as 30 mph (48 kph) if necessary, to catch their prey
Resources: https://enwikipediaorg/wiki/Killer_whale