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Post by Revenge on May 15, 2009 20:06:24 GMT -5
Killer Whales (Orcas)
Natural-Born Killer: This distinctive black and white toothed cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises) can be found in oceans worldwide. Also known as the killer whale, the orca is an excellent hunter. All types of fish — from herring to white sharks, to marine mammals such as whales and seals, and even turtles and birds — are not safe when the orca is nearby.
Hunting Techniques: Orcas have perfected several inventive techniques to catch their prey. One method is for large groups of orcas to work as a team to herd victims together before attacking from different angles. Orcas will also frequently force seals and sea lions to beach, giving the hunter an easy catch in the shallow water. Tipping over ice floes to unbalance a tasty meal is another trick.
A Social Cetacean: This is a social animal and it swims the oceans in large family groups, called pods, of approximately 30 mixed-sex individuals, although pods of over 150 orcas have been spotted.
Orca Culture?: Different orca populations can have very different vocal behavior, hunting techniques and social behavior. These behaviors are learned and passed on to subsequent generations, much like human culture.
DID YOU KNOW?
Orca Types: Orcas are divided into three types: "resident orcas," which eat fish and squid; "transient orcas," which eat marine mammals; and the recently discovered "offshore orcas," which eat fish, sharks and sea turtles.
A Taste for Birds: Some orcas prey on birds, such as cormorants, penguins and sea gulls. They have been observed regurgitating fish onto the water's surface to attract sea gulls and then eat them.
Humongous Hunters: Adult orcas weigh, on average, between 5,700 to 16,000 pounds. The largest orca on record, a male, weighed over 8 tons (17,636 pounds).
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Post by Revenge on May 15, 2009 20:12:08 GMT -5
The Killer Whale (Orca)
Killer Whale (Orca) Profile
Orcas, or killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins and one of the world's most powerful predators. They feast on marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even whales, employing teeth that can be four inches (ten centimeters) long. They are known to grab seals right off the ice. They also eat fish, squid, and seabirds.
Though they often frequent cold, coastal waters, orcas can be found from the polar regions to the Equator.
Killer whales hunt in deadly pods, family groups of up to 40 individuals. There appear to be both resident and transient pod populations of killer whales. These different groups may prey on different animals and use different techniques to catch them. Resident pods tend to prefer fish, while transient pods target marine mammals. All pods use effective, cooperative hunting techniques that some liken to the behavior of wolf packs.
Whales make a wide variety of communicative sounds, and each pod has distinctive noises that its members will recognize even at a distance. They use echolocation to communicate and hunt, making sounds that travel underwater until they encounter objects, then bounce back, revealing their location, size, and shape.
Killer whales are protective of their young, and other adolescent females often assist the mother in caring for them. Mothers give birth every three to ten years, after a 17-month pregnancy.
Orcas are immediately recognizable by their distinctive black-and-white coloring and are the intelligent, trainable stars of many aquarium shows. Killer whales have never been extensively hunted by humans.
Killer Whale/Orca Range (In the yellow)
Fast Facts
Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore
Average lifespan in the wild: 50 to 80 years
Size: 23 to 32 ft (7 to 9.7 m)
Weight: up to 6 tons (5,443 kg)
Group name: Pod
Size relative to a bus
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Post by Revenge on May 15, 2009 20:12:23 GMT -5
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