The population of Southern Resident killer whales in the Pacific Northwest is one of the most critically endangered marine mammals. The name originates from the nickname “whale killer” given to them by fishermen after observing killer whales hunting larger species of whales. Social hierarchy exists amongst the killer whales where the females are dominant. Orcas are considered to be highly social and their hunting techniques are quite sophisticated. A highly distinctive feature of the killer whale is its black and white colouring … Other body structures on a killer whale include tail flukes that help keep the animal in motion. Male and female orcas can range from 16-22 feet and 2.6-9 tons! Physical Appearance. Amongst the marine animals, they have the second heaviest brain and are considered quite intelligent. As stated earlier the killer whale is the largest animal within the dolphin family.At full maturity the male killer whale will usually grow to an average length of 20 – 26 ft. long and weigh an average of 8,000 lbs. Both the Dolphin and the whale are closely related and belong to a scientific order known as Cetacea. Distribution Orcas have a cosmopolitan distribution, from tropical to polar waters, and from surf zone to open sea but … The gestation period of a female killer whale is 15-18 months. Offshore killer whales are more similar in appearance to the resident ecotype, although they are smaller than either the residents or transients and they have a faint saddle. Read on to learn about the killer whale. Your email address will not be published. Since the life expectancy of a female killer whale is almost 90 years, up to almost 4 generations stay together. Their body shape is round and cylindrical with tapering tail and head. The pictorial fins of the killer whale are large and rounded that resembles paddles. Also called “orcas,” killer whales are incredibly intelligent predators, which hunt a variety of prey species. Identifying and cataloging whales based on natural markings and characteristics is a type of research called photo-identification. Killer whales, also called orcas, are the largest marine mammal that is a part of the dolphin family. Orcas have mostly black skin with white patches. Adult male killer whales are larger than adult females. They may be considered as species that are cosmopolitan in nature i.e. They're immediately recognizable by their distinctive black-and-white coloring. Their conservation status is Data Deficient, which means there is insufficient information on this species and there is a possibility that two killer whales may be of separate species. while an adult female killer whale will grow to an average length of 16 – 23 ft. long and weigh between 3,000 lbs. According to a survey, the highest density of the killer whales is found near the northeast Atlantic, north Pacific and in the southern Ocean. In 2010, he became responsible for the death of senior trainer Dawn Brancheau, an incident that sparked debate about the ethics of keeping orcas in zoological settings. Females are sexually mature at an age ranging from 6 to ten years, and males between 10 and 13 years. Orcas are known for their long dorsal fin (the fin on the animal's back) and black-and-white coloring. Sometimes a killer whale may make loud sounds either under the water or above it by lob tailing, dorsal fin slapping and pec-slapping. The largest male killer whale recorded was 32 feet long while the largest female killer whale was 28 feet long. The killer whale has a massive body and a poorly defined beak compared to other dolphin species. At a glance, they don’t look much attractive and they in fact look…, What is most striking about meerkats is their ability to stand on their two feet and inquisitively evaluate their surroundings. They have white eye patch with a big and heavy body. Populations have been documented foraging for long periods of time in shallow coastal and inter-tidal flats in just a few meters of water. Images, Pics, Photos and Pictures Of Killer Whale. Juvenile killer whales are approximately 7 ft. in length and weigh in at almost 400 lbs. The killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca) is a toothed whale and the member of the dolphin family.. Killer whales most widely distributed marine mammals, found in all parts of the oceans.. Black; White; Skin Type Smooth Top Speed 30 mph Lifespan 50-60 years Weight 6,804-8,618kg (15,000-19,000lbs) Killer Whales (orca) are found in all the worlds oceans both hot and cold from the freezing waters of the North and South poles to tropical seas. They can produce three types of sounds namely pulsed calls, clicks and whistles. Physical Appearance The killer whale is the largest species in the family Delphinidae. Also, they are considered as quite common on the eastern Pacific and around the North Atlantic Ocean. A male can wiegh up to 11,000 po… This creature is classified as an oceanic dolphin that typically inhabits tropical regions and other oceans. Black; White; Skin Type Smooth Top Speed 30 mph Lifespan 50-60 years Weight 6,804-8,618kg (15,000-19,000lbs) Killer Whales (orca) are found in all the worlds oceans both hot and cold from the freezing waters of the North and South poles to tropical seas. The killer whale has four appendages, including flippers and dorsal fins. In fact, the orca is the biggest member of this group. Physical Appearance. Without a doubt, Killer Whales – also callled as orcas – are one of the most distinctive cetaceans in the world. An orca's body is cylindrical and tapers at both ends to form an aerodynamic shape.According to National Geographic, orcas are considered the largest species of the dolphin family. This behavior is termed as spy hop. Some Whales that are called ‘Whales’ are not actually Whales. They are considered as the fastest marine mammals and can swim at a speed of 56km/hr. Orca anatomy Killer whales are the world’s largest dolphins. Killer whales, also known as Orcas, are marine mammals. They have one the largest brains in existence, four times the weight of an adult human brain. Whales belong to the order Cetacea which has 79 species, including Dolphins, Porpoises and Killer Whales (orcas). (The dorsal fin is the fin that sticks up from their back). The question of where killer whales live is complicated by the fact that there is disagreement over how many species of killer whales there are. Narwhal (Unicorn Of The Sea) is found in the cold water of Arctic sea near Canada and Greenland. 32 ft. in length and can weigh in at 10 tons, This picture portrays a female killer whale. Characteristics of the killer whale. They may also suffer from viral or fungal infections. A full grown male killer whale is larger than a fully grown female killer whale. In fact, they belong to the same family, being the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family in the world. The life average expectancy of a female killer whale is between 46 and 50 years and that of a male killer whale is between 30 and 38 years. These small dolphins can weigh up … Appearance. Description of the Killer Whale. Orca whales are the largest of the dolphins group, length and weight wise. The killer whale is one of the most recognizable marine mammals, namely due to their black and white pattern, and large size. They can be found in each of the world’s oceans in a variety of marine environments, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas.. In general, the killer whale behavior includes breaching (jumping), travelling, tail slapping and socializing. Several killer whales, also known as orcas, have been sighted in waters across the archipelago in the last several months, as one of the world's most powerful predators migrate to look for food. Killer whales hunt in pods, or groups, in a way similar to wolves. Also, they are the largest animals that can gain nutrients from plant based diet, also known as ruminant. Killer whales are black or deep brown overall with striking white patches above their eyes and from the lower jaw to the belly and a fainter grayish- white saddle patch just under the dorsal fin. Overview. They have an eye patch, saddle patch, and two flippers. Type 1 killer whales are much smaller than type 2. Male killer wales mature at the age of 15 years, but usually don’t reproduce until they are 21 years of age. They circle their prey and force them into smaller areas before attacking. Killer whale, (Orcinus orca), also called orca, largest member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). They hunt large marine animals, such as sea lions, fish, squids and sea birds. They are the largest dolphins. Killer whales are mostly black on top with white undersides and white patches near the eyes. Habitat & Distribution . 1. The colors on a killer whale are black and white. Antarctic killer whales may have pale grey to nearly white backs. Although the species has been known to be extremely aggressive in captivity, this aggressive behavior has not been observed in the wild. The health issues faced by killer whales include stomach ulcers, heart diseases, skin diseases and respiratory disorders. Required fields are marked *, © 2013 - 2020 Animals Adda || All Rights Reserved. Killer Whale Characteristics. When we were small kids, how many of us thought their eyes were those long white patches on the head? Killer Whale Physical Characteristics Colour. Calves are born with a yellowish or orange tint, which fades to white. We cannot deny the beauty that characterizes killer whales. Researchers identify individual killer whales by the size and shape of their dorsal fins, the shape of the saddle-shaped, light patch behind the dorsal fin, and marks or scars on their dorsal fins or bodies. Their hearing ability under water is very acute. They have white eye patch with a big and heavy body. Killer whales inhabit all oceans of the world. Type B killer whales prefer inshore waters of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Antarctica. The killer whale is one of the largest of the toothed whales, and possibly the most famous. For example, the types of Antarctic Killer whales with their specific prey include; Killer whales are found in all the oceans of the world, but they prefer higher latitudes and also the coastal areas that come in the pelagic zone. Killer whales are mostly black on top with white undersides and white patches near the eyes. Yes, we are talking about Ostrich. For this reason they are frequently captured and marketed for recreational purposes.. Their beautiful mixing of white and black colors, are very proper to be part of aquariums.. Also, different killer whale species have specialized on certain prey species. When seen from a distance, ju… They called orcas asesina ballenas, or ‘whale killer’ – a term that was eventually flipped around to the easier ‘killer whale’. Killer whales can survive in the cold polar regions of Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, as well as the warm waters of the equatorial regions. At full maturity the killer whale can grow to lengths of up to 30 ft. long and weigh as much as 10 tons! 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 … Adult killer whales are very distinctive, seldom confused with any other sea creature. They even prey on fishes that are bigger than them. Orca whales are the largest of the dolphins group, length and weight wise. Some of the others include the Pygmy Killer Whale, False Killer Whale, and the Melon-headed Whale. Ostrich is found abundantly near…, Giraffes are said to be tallest living terrestrial animals. Because killer whales can be kept in human care, we conduct more thorough scientific research about them than some of the other whale species. Despite their massive weight, killer whales possess a very hydrodynamic body. Despite their name, they are not whales. Killer whales have dark backs and white sides and chests. They slap their tails on water so that the wave created due to this washes their prey. Also, female killer whales may breed up to the age of 40 years. The killer whale's flippers are large and oval. . Females give birth to only one calf once in every five years. Once cornered, the orcas take turns biting and ramming their prey. A full grown male killer whale is larger than a fully grown female killer whale. This behavior is termed as breach. Killer whale sizes vary significantly between different geographical areas. They weigh up to 6 tons (5,443 kilograms) and gro… The three types of killer whales are resident killer whales, transient killer whales and offshore killer whales. Orcas were given the name ‘killer whale’ by ancient sailors’ observations of groups of orcas hunting and preying on larger whale species. IUCN Status: Data Deficient Distribution: in every ocean as far as the ice packs of the Arctic and Antarctic Length: males 8-9m, females 7-8m Weight: males up to 6500kg, females up to 4500kg Life-span: up to 100 years. The pictorial fins of the killer whale are large and rounded that resembles paddles. Male and females look almost identical except for that the males are larger and longer in comparison to the females. This scientific order is of large aquatic mammals. The killer whale is the largest marine mammal in the dolphin family. The killer whale is easy to identify by its size and its striking coloration: jet black on top and pure white below with a white patch behind each eye, another extending up each flank, and a variable “saddle patch” just behind the dorsal fin. Also, the pectoral flippers of males are larger than that of females. The only difference is…, Platypus is often referred to as the duck-billed platypus because its bill resembles that of a duck. upon birth, The picture above is showing a male adult killer whale. Killer Whales Are Part of the Dolphin Family. Killer wales don’t breed within the same pod and mate with females of different pods. Males can weigh up to 5.5 tonnes while the females are around 4 tonnes.In addition to being heavier, males have a … Apex predators or alpha predators are predators that take the topmost position of the food chain. Killer whales share some personality traits with humans and chimps - such as playfulness, independence, stubbornness, bravery, sensitivity and protectiveness - according to a new study. Killer whales, or Orcas (Orcinus orca) are toothed whales in the oceanic dolphin family. They are easy to identify because of their distinctive white and black colouring. Because of this, they are sometimes known as wolf of the sea (As wolfs also hunt in packs). It belongs to the same family as whale. Their family consists of an old female and her sons and daughters along with the descendants of her daughters. This picture shows a juvenile killer whale. Females can grow up to approx. Behind the fin, it has a dark grey "saddle patch" across the back. – 12,000 lbs. They are found in all the world's oceans, from the cold of the Arctic to the tropical seas. The killer whale is the largest member of the dolphin family. They have an eye patch, saddle patch, and two flippers. They received their name due to their large size and suitability as predators. Killer whales or Orcas are apex predators. Tilikum (pronounced till-EH-kum) was a 35-year-old, male killer whale who lived at SeaWorld Orlando. Type C killer whales prefer both pack ice and the inshore water of eastern Antarctic. Also, the mortality rate of a calf within the first six months is very high. The lifespans of wild females average 50 years. Female killer whales usually mature at the age of about 10 years and reach their sexual peak at about 20 years. When it comes to their habitat the killer whale can be seen swimming in all of the worlds major oceans, although they tend to prefer living in coastal waters and cool regions. The False Killer Whale has similar skull characteristics as the killer whale. Killer Whale Physical Characteristics Colour. 2. The Killer Whale is a species from the Choeropsis genus. They can reach lengths of 25 to 30 feet and weigh up to eight tons. Sending sound waves that travel underwater, killer whales use echolocation as a means for hunting. Their large size and their anatomical design allow us to differentiate and distinguish them from other cetaceans in the ocean quickly. Appearance. It has a heavy and robust body with a large dorsal fin up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) tall. It can refer to all cetaceans, to just the larger ones, or only to members […] It derives its common name from sharing some physical characteristics with the killer whale.It is the smallest cetacean species that has "whale" in its common name. Food: fish, squid and less often, seals and other whales. The name 'killer' that we humans give to these whales is perhaps deceptive. The killer whale or “Orca” is a cetacean of the family “Odontocete” that groups every toothed marine mammal, just like dolphins. The population of Southern Resident killer whales in the Pacific Northwest is one of the most critically endangered marine mammals. Type A killer whales prefer living offshore and in ice-free waters. Also, the pectoral flippers of males are larger than that of females. Just behind the dorsal fin is a patch of gray called a \"saddle\" — because it looks like a riding saddle. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. 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