Killer Pop Quiz - Killer Whale Facts

Killer whale fact number one: Killer whales are thethe Equator. They are easy to identify being
part of the dolphin family. They are largestbeautifully marked in black and white and they
relative in the sea mammal group. I do meanmove with extraordinary grace which belies their
LARGE, on average killer whales or Orcas weighhuge size. It is another strange killer whale fact
an average 5400 kg and are up to 9.7 metersthat these creatures have never been
long.extensively hunted by humans unlike some of
Killer whale fact number two: These beautifultheir close relatives.
monsters of the ocean are carnivores and take aKiller whale fact number five: Killer whales have
lot of feeding. They are amongst the mostlong lives some living up to 80 years. Killer whale
successful predators in the marine world, which iscows only become pregnant every 3 to 10 years
not surprising as it takes a lot of creature toand have a long 17-month pregnancy. Whale
evade or defeat an enormous creature that'scalves are cared for and reared in the protection
about as heavy as two fully laden Lincolnof a family pod. Although it's well known that
Continentals and as long an average single deckermembers of the dolphin and whale family
bus. They are the predators of the whale familycommunicate through distinctive sounds it's a little
and are successful hunters of sea mammals suchknown killer whale fact that like human beings
as seals, sea lions, fish, squid, and seabirds andfrom different cultures, each Orca pod has its
even other species of whales.own individual language which its members can
Killer whale fact number three: No lone killers,hear and distinguish even from great distances.
these intelligent creatures live in large family packsKiller whale fact number six: These ancient
of up to about 40. Killer whale pods, as thesecreatures are the subject of ongoing research
groups are known can be likened to wolf packs inand have much to teach us. The killer whales
their hunting techniques. A little known killer whaleability to use echolocation to learn about the size
fact is that there are two very different types ofand shape of submerged objects underwater and
pods which have different types of foodfor communication has enabled its survival.
preference and even hunt differently. 'Resident'Whereas only in the recent past has man
pods hunt fish while the 'transient' pods hunt anddiscovered sonar to hunt submarines in war, to
kill marine mammals.find underwater objects or to increase our fishing
Killer whale fact number four: Orcas are longcatches. What other gifts will this giant of the
distance travelers and are common in colderseas have to share with us? Watch out for the
coastal waters but killer whale pods are can bemore Killer whale facts in black and white.
seen hunting around the world from the Poles to