The Truth About Orcas (Killer Whales)
If you have seen the ‘Free Willy’ movies, you would have fallen in love
with Orca whales. These magnificent marine giants are known to
dwell in a variety of oceanic regions, from the Arctic and Antarctic to
the tropical seas. So, if you ever find yourself on a voyage through
the seven seas and come across a pod of Orcas, you shouldn’t be
surprised. Just get your camera out and hope to capture some
stunning images of these beautiful mammoths of the deep.
Have you ever wondered what exactly makes these whales so lovable
despite being called killers? Without further ado, let’s dive into some
facts about Orca whales.
1. The scientific name for killer whales is ‘Orcinus Orca’.
2. Orcas are actually the largest members of the dolphin family.
3. A family of Orcas is called a ‘pod’.
4. The average life span of an Orca is 50-80 years.
5. They are many varieties of Orcas.
6. Orcas have different vocal sounds, just as we have different languages.
7. Orcas are highly intelligent and very social.
8. They use clicks and whistles to communicate with their pod. They also use body
language to communicate.
9. Orcas have the ability to rest one side of their brain to take a nap, and keep
the other awake to regulate breathing in order to prevent drowning.
10. Orcas hunt in pods of 40 individuals. Orcas do not have any natural predators
except for human beings and toxic chemicals dumped in the ocean.
Physical Appearance
The Orca’s distinctive black-and-white
coloring makes it stand out instantly
among other whale species and ocean
dwellers.
Fun Fact: An Orca’s eyes are
about the same size of a
cow’s eyes.
Orcas have oval-shaped, white patches
behind and above each eye.
They also have a gray patch called a
‘saddle’ or ‘cape’ on the back, just behind
the dorsal fin.
The underside of the body, the underside
of the tail fluke, throat and chin are white.
Just as each person has unique
fingerprints, every Orca has its own
unique markings, which are used for
individual identification.
Size
Adult male Orca whales
are
larger
than
the
females.
The average size of an
adult male is recorded to
be about 19-22 ft. in
length.
The females are 16-19 ft.
in length.
Fun Fact: The largest recorded male killer whale was 9.8 m
(32 ft.) long and weighed 10,000 kilograms (20,000 lbs.).
Orca Hunting Behavior and Diet
Orca whales are apex predators
and hunt in packs.
They are referred to as the ‘wolves
of the sea’.
They are highly capable of killing
great-white sharks.
There have been instances of Orcas
preying on moose swimming
between islands.
Orcas have very diverse diets. They
eat fish, seals, squid, sea turtles,
cephalopods, sea birds and even
smaller whales like the beluga and
baleen whale.
Fun Fact: There has never been any case
of an Orca attacking a person in the wild.
However, there has been only one report of
a bite.
Caring for Their Young
Orcas are extremely protective of their
young.
Female orcas have only one baby every
five years.
Baby orcas are born with a burnt orange
and black coloration, which lasts until
five months of age.
Very young babies are given piggy-back
rides to help cover long distances.
A baby orca is called a ‘calf’.
Orca calves are nursed with milk and
stay with their mothers for at least two
years.