Killer Whales

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Killer Whales

• Orcinus orca

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• Largest members of the dolphin family
  (Delphinidae)
• Average male is 24 ft and 10,500 kg
• Average female is 20 ft and 7,400 kg
• Males have much taller dorsal fin up to 6ft

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class
Mammalia Order Cetacea Suborder
Odontoceti Family Delphinidae Genus
Orcinus Species orca
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• Order Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises)
• 2 sub categories
• Odontoceti (toothed whales)
• Dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales, etc.
• Mysticeti (baleen whales)
• blue whale, minke, fin, sei, etc

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• All whales, dolphins, and porpoises breathe
  through a blow hole
• No gills
• cannot acquire oxygen from surrounding water
• Cannot breathe through mouth
• Windpipe and esophagus are separate
• Breathe through blowhole
• External opening located near top of head
• Strong muscles under voluntary control (somatic
  nervous system) close this before diving

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• Can utilize oxygen more efficiently than land
  mammals
• However can still only dive for up to 15 minutes

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• Varied Diet
• Squid
• Fish
• Birds
• Sea turtles
• Sea lion pups
• Dolphins
• Will also cooperatively hunt for larger animals
  such as blue whale
• Very fast swimmers
• Up to 34 mph

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• Range
• Found in all oceans and seas from polar regions
  to tropics
• Live in groups called pods
• Two genetically different types
• Transients
• Smaller pods (up to 7)
• Roam over much broader areas
• Eat predominantly mammals
• Vocalize less

• Residents
• Larger pod sizes (5 to 25)
• Smaller range (San Juan Islands)
• Eat mostly fish
• Vocalize frequently

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• Pod structure
• Groups or related individuals
• Very little migration between pods has been
  observed
• Mating occurs when two pods meet
• Reach sexual maturity between 10 18 years
• Females give birth to single calves
• Dependant on mother for many years
• Long lived 80 to 90 years for females and 50 to
  60 years for males