Features of Killer Whales

Killer whales, or orcas, are the largest of all species in the order of Cetacea, marine mammals such as dolphins. Their name is derived from the fact that they kill and eat other whales. Killer whales are carnivorous predators who also feed on fish, seals and squid. Such whales are group hunters that live in pods of 30 or 40 and utilize specific sounds to communicate and coordinate their hunt. Their average life span is 50 to 80 years.

  1. Body and Coloring

    • Killer whales have long, rounded bodies that taper at both ends with a large dorsal fin in the middle of their back. The top portion of their body, including their flippers, is black. The bottom portion of their bodies, including the reverse side of their tale and their underside, is white. The whales also have distinct cylindrical patches of white on the side of their heads and above each eye.

    Size and Fins

    • The length of the average killer whale is dependent on the mammal's location, but in general, adult killer whales are 19 to 32 feet long and adult females are 16 to 19 feet long. Adult males weigh 8 to 9 tons, and adult females weight 3 to 4 tons. The killer whale's dorsal fin is one of the most distinctive features of any mammal and provides stability as the whale moves through the water. In males, the fin reaches a height of 6 feet. In females, the fin is 3 feet high.

    Flippers and Flukes

    • The flippers of a killer whale are shaped like paddles and enable the whale to swim through the water and change direction. The flippers are similar to the forelimbs of other mammals, supported by five digits. An adult male's flippers can reach a length of 6 feet and a width of 4 feet, but a female adult's flippers are slightly smaller. The whale's tail has two large curved pads known as flukes, which lack cartilage or bone. Flukes help the whale navigate through water and also act as a natural brake system, helping the whale stop and change direction.

    Communication, Behavior and Activities

    • Killer whales communicate with each other through sounds including screams and squeals. They possess heightened vision and hearing and use a process known as echolocation to identify objects under the water. A whale generates a clicking sound and waits to hear the echoes to determine the location of objects in the vicinity. The whale analyzes the echoing sound wave to guide its path through the water. Killer whales spend much of their day traveling to different areas to look for food, resting after a long hunt and socializing by slapping their tails and flippers together and leaping in and out of the water.