Interesting facts about Killer Whales
Killer whales, also known as Orcas (Orcinus orca), in spite of being called whales, are actually dolphin. They stand out with black and white colors and the intelligence showed in many aquarium performances. Here are some very interesting killer whales facts that you may not know.
Killer whales are known as the biggest dolphin and the most powerful predator in the world. They depend on many big sea mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even whales. Their dangerous weapons are their teeth which can be four inches long (10 centimeters). They are also said to grab seals right of the ice. Besides, they eat fish, squid and seabirds as well.
They hunt in groups, also called pods, which include up to 40 individuals. There are two kinds of group, resident and temporary. Each group has different hunting technique and feed on different preys. Resident ones prefer fish while temporary ones like marine mammals. But all of them possess very effective and cooperative techniques. Interesting killer whales facts, their hunting habit is somehow like wolves; therefore, they are called the “wolves of the sea”.
They use sounds to communicate and cooperate within pods. Different pods have different noises for the members to recognize from a long-distance away. With their echo, they even can identify the species of fish.
Whale mothers give birth every 3–10 years after the gestation of 17 months. In addition, cool killer whales facts, whale mothers tend to breed ones that do not have very closed relation in their pod rather than with relatives.
The young killer whales are carefully protected. Other female teenage whales help the mother to take care of them.
Cool killer whale facts: they are able to control the blood flow to their heart and brain, which frees them from lack of oxygen in deep water.
A big male killer whale can have a meal as large as 220 pounds (100kg) per day. That means it can eat four seal pups or 400 herring.
Interesting killer whale facts: in a point inside their mouth, there are from 40–56 interlocking teeth. Each of them is 3 inches long, conical-shaped and aimed at ripping and tearing rather than chewing. Killer whales eat food in lumps or swallow it right after catching.
A medium-sized killer whale grows up to 19 feet (5.8m) long. However, the longest one has been recorded 30 feet (9m) and it weighs 22,000 pounds (10,000kg).
Their speed of swimming reaches up to 35 mph (56km per hour), making them one of the fastest creatures in the ocean.
Killer whales’ lifespan is an average of 50 to 80 years.
Fun killer whale facts: actually, the name of this species came from Spanish whale hunters in the 1700s. They got that name because they even hunt other whales in the ocean. “Killers of whales” was transposed to killer whales.
Besides their deadly teeth, their head and tails also take part in hunting to strike and knock out prey.
Interesting killer whales facts, they possess the biggest brain on earth. Their brain weighs up to 15 pounds (7kg) — the five-fold weight of an average human brain.
Killer whales have their own individual identification. That is their mark behind the dorsal fin. Each killer whale has a totally distinctive mark. People use this mark to distinguish one killer whale with each other.
Strange killer whale facts: many of them live with their mothers for their entire lives!
More interesting facts….
