Orca WhalesOrca Whales

Inquiry Project #3by Lynsey Wilkie

ExperienceExperience

I have been fascinated with ocean I have been fascinated with ocean and marine life since I was young. and marine life since I was young. I have particularly been intrigued I have particularly been intrigued with Orca whales. You always with Orca whales. You always hear about Shamu at sea World hear about Shamu at sea World but I wanted to find out what a but I wanted to find out what a “killer” whale is like in the wild, “killer” whale is like in the wild, not captivity.not captivity.

QuestionsQuestions

How big do they get?How big do they get? Where do they live?Where do they live? What do they eat?What do they eat? How do they reproduce?How do they reproduce? How do they communicate?How do they communicate? Are they violent? (nickname “killer” Are they violent? (nickname “killer”

whale)whale) Do they have predators?Do they have predators?

Physical AppearancePhysical Appearance Orcas grow to be about 27-33 feet long.Orcas grow to be about 27-33 feet long. Weigh more than 8,000-12,000 pounds. Weigh more than 8,000-12,000 pounds.

– The male orca is larger than the female.The male orca is larger than the female.– They are the largest member of the dolphin They are the largest member of the dolphin

family.family. The Orca's skin is mostly black with distinctive white The Orca's skin is mostly black with distinctive white

patches.patches. Orcas have stocky bodies and a rounded head with Orcas have stocky bodies and a rounded head with

a distinctive beak. a distinctive beak. – They have a tall dorsal fin and large, paddle-like They have a tall dorsal fin and large, paddle-like

flippers. flippers. – The dorsal fin of the male is taller than a females.The dorsal fin of the male is taller than a females.

EnvironmentEnvironment

Killer whales live in all oceans of the world but are usually Killer whales live in all oceans of the world but are usually found in the Arctic, the Antarctic, and areas where found in the Arctic, the Antarctic, and areas where there’s cold water. there’s cold water. – Can be seen along the shores of Washington, Oregon, Can be seen along the shores of Washington, Oregon,

California, and Baja California and along the eastern California, and Baja California and along the eastern coast of the United States.coast of the United States.

Some killer whales also have been seen in warm water Some killer whales also have been seen in warm water areas such as Hawaii, Australia, the Galapagos Islands, areas such as Hawaii, Australia, the Galapagos Islands, the Bahamas, and the Gulf of Mexico.  the Bahamas, and the Gulf of Mexico.  – Such sightings are not common  Such sightings are not common 

Some have even been found in fresh water rivers around Some have even been found in fresh water rivers around the world such as the Rhine, the Thames, and the Elbe.  the world such as the Rhine, the Thames, and the Elbe.  – One traveled 110 miles up the Columbia River to eat One traveled 110 miles up the Columbia River to eat

fish.fish.

FoodFood

Killer whales hunt in pods.Killer whales hunt in pods.– Family groups of up to 40 individuals. Family groups of up to 40 individuals.

Different groups may prey on different animals Different groups may prey on different animals and use different techniques to catch them. and use different techniques to catch them. – Resident pods tend to eat fish.Resident pods tend to eat fish.– Transient pods tend to eat marine mammals. Transient pods tend to eat marine mammals.

All pods use cooperative hunting techniques that All pods use cooperative hunting techniques that can be compared to the behavior of wolf packs. can be compared to the behavior of wolf packs.

They eat on marine mammals.They eat on marine mammals.– Seals, fish, sea lions, and even other whales.Seals, fish, sea lions, and even other whales.

ReproducingReproducing

Breeding may occur in any season, but it Breeding may occur in any season, but it is most common in the summer.  is most common in the summer. 

Killer whales are protective of their young, Killer whales are protective of their young, and other adolescent females often assist and other adolescent females often assist the mother in caring for them. the mother in caring for them.

Mothers give birth every three to ten Mothers give birth every three to ten years, after a 17-month pregnancy. years, after a 17-month pregnancy.

  Calves nurse about 5 to 10 seconds at a Calves nurse about 5 to 10 seconds at a time, several times an hour, 24 hours a time, several times an hour, 24 hours a day. day. 

CommunicationCommunication

They use echolocation to communicate They use echolocation to communicate and hunt and hunt – They make sounds that travel They make sounds that travel

underwater until they encounter objects, underwater until they encounter objects, then bounce back, revealing their then bounce back, revealing their location, size, and shape. location, size, and shape.

Whales make a wide variety of Whales make a wide variety of communicative sounds.communicative sounds.

Each pod has distinctive noises that its Each pod has distinctive noises that its members will recognize.members will recognize.

TemperamentTemperament

Orca whales are known Orca whales are known as “killers” because of as “killers” because of their predator role in their predator role in the oceanthe ocean

They can be dangerous They can be dangerous at times but can be at times but can be trained and controlledtrained and controlled– Shamu at Sea WorldShamu at Sea World

PredatorsPredators

Killer whales are top predators in the sea.  Killer whales are top predators in the sea.  – Sometimes sharks prey on older, younger, or ill killer Sometimes sharks prey on older, younger, or ill killer

whales. whales. Killer whales get numerous natural diseases and Killer whales get numerous natural diseases and

parasites.  parasites.  – These parasites are tapeworms, roundworms, and These parasites are tapeworms, roundworms, and

flukes.  flukes.  Whales may suffer from viral, bacterial, and fungal Whales may suffer from viral, bacterial, and fungal

infections.  infections.  They can develop stomach ulcers, skin diseases, and They can develop stomach ulcers, skin diseases, and

tumors.  tumors.  Hodgkin's disease has affected many Killer whales too.Hodgkin's disease has affected many Killer whales too. Humans are a Killer whales threatHumans are a Killer whales threat

ReferencesReferences

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Orca.shtmlwhales/species/Orca.shtml

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mhttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/killer-whale.htmlammals/killer-whale.html

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/KillerWhale/hahttp://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/KillerWhale/habdiskw.htmlbdiskw.html

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/KillerWhale/http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/KillerWhale/home.htmlhome.html

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/killer-whale/behavior.htmkiller-whale/behavior.htm

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/KillerWhale/http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/KillerWhale/deathkw.htmldeathkw.html