FAST FACTS
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Common name
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Killer whale
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Scientific name
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Orcinus orca |
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Body size
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adult female up to 7m; weighs up to 7,500 kg; dorsal fin up to 1m adult male up to 9m; weighs up to 10,000 kg; dorsal fin up to 2m newborn calf up to 2.5m; weighs up to 200 kg |
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Average life expectancy
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females: 50 years (can live up to 80 or 90 yrs) males: 30 years (can live up to 50 or 60 yrs) |
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Vocal behavior
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Killer whales produce three types of vocalizations: echolocation clicks are used for orientation and to find prey whistles appear to function in short-range communication pulsed calls are highly stereotyped and likely function in long range communication. Repertoires of pulsed calls differ between social groups and populations. |
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Physical characteristics
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Orcas are distinctively coloured. The dorsal surface is mostly black except for a grey saddle behind the dorsal fin. The underside of the body and underside of flukes are white and there is a white eyespot behind each eye. |
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Travel speeds
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One of the fastest animals in the searecord holder is a male timed at 55.5 km/h (34.5 mph). short bursts: 45 km/h typical traveling speed: 6-8 km/h |
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Characteristics of three types of killer whales:
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Residents | Transients | Offshores |
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Diet
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Fish, especially salmon with a focus on chinook and chum | Seals, sea lions, porpoises, and small whales | Not certain: scientists believe they feed on giant squids and possibly sharks |
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Dorsal fin
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Rounded tip usually with sharper angle at the rear corner | Fin tip is generally pointed | Rounded over tip, usually lacks the sharper angle at the rear corner |
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Saddle patch
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Open saddle patch often seen | Saddle patch large and uniformly grey | Saddle patch either solid grey or open |
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Social structure
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Live in a matriarchal society: male and female offspring remain with their mother as long as she is alive | Social structure of transients is much looser than the resident form | Unknown but usually encountered in large groups |
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Sounds
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Very vocal. Whales that share stereotyped calls are grouped together as clans | Are stealth hunters that echolocate rarely, presumably use passive listening to find their prey. Tend to vocalize during or directly following a kill | Distinct calls from transients and residents. Frequently vocal, use lots of echolocation |
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Typical dive times
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3 – 5 minutes | 7 – 10 minutes | Unknown |
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Distribution
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All along the western coast of North America from Southeast Alaska to California. Maybe Aleutian islands | All along the western coast of North America from Southeast Alaska to California. Maybe Aleutian islands | Far from coastline, encountered near Queen Charlottes, West Coast of Vancouver Island, seen as far south as Los Angeles |
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Conservation status
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Northern Resident – Threatened See: Species At Risk Public RegistrySouthern Resident – Endangered See: Species At Risk Public Registry(US Endangered Species Act) |
West Coast Transient – Threatened
See: Species At Risk Public Registry;AT1 Transient – Depleted (US Marine Mammal Protection Act) |
Population of special concern See: Species At Risk Public Registry |