The
Killer Whale
By : Muhamad Fikri Nurohman / X-Science 2
About
the Orca
Orcas,
or killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins and one of the world's most
powerful predators. They feast on marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and
even whales, employing teeth that can be four inches long. They are known to
grab seals right off the ice. They also eat fish, squid, and seabirds.
General
Knowledge
COMMON NAME : Orca
(Killer Whale)
SCIENTIFIC NAME : Orcinus orca
TYPE : Mammals
DIET : Carnivores
GROUP NAME: : Pod
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD : 50 to 80 years
SIZE : 23 to 32 ft
WEIGHT: Up
to 6 tons
Classification
KINGDOM: Animal (Animalia)
PHYLUM: Vertebrate (Chordata)
CLASS:
Mammal
(Mammalia)
ORDER: Marine mammal (Cetacea)
FAMILY: Oceanic dolphin (Delphinidae)
GENUS: Killer whale genus (Orcinus)
SPECIES: Killer whale (Orca)
Hunting
and Communication
Though they often frequent cold, coastal waters,
orcas can be found from the polar regions to the Equator.
Orcas hunt in deadly pods, family groups of up to 40
individuals. There appears to be both resident and transient pod populations of
orcas. These different groups may prey on different animals and use different techniques
to catch them. Resident pods tend to prefer fish, while transient pods target
marine mammals. All pods use effective, cooperative hunting techniques that
some liken to the behavior of wolf packs.
Whales make a wide variety of communicative sounds, and each pod has distinctive noises that its member will recognize even at a distance. They use echolocation to communicate and hunt, making sounds that travel underwater until they encounter objects, then bounce back, revealing their location, size, and shape.
Reproduction
and Conservation
Orcas are protective of their young, and other
adolescent females often assist the mother in caring for them. Mothers give
birth every three to ten years, after a 17-month pregnancy.
Orcas are immediately recognizable by their distinctive
black-and-white coloring and are the intelligent, trainable stars of many
aquarium shows. Orcas have never been extensively hunted by humans.
Life
Cycle
FEMALE
Mature at age 10.
Can live up to 90 years old.
Oldest female orca is 103 years old.
MALE
Mature at age 15.
Can live up to 40 years old.
Oldest male orca is 59 years old.
Another
Fact
Though called killer whales, orcas aren't whales;
they are the largest dolphin species.
In Argentina, orcas hurl themselves on-shore to grab
sea lion pups.
In the Antarctic, pod members cooperate to make large
waves that wash seals from ice floes
Whalers call the orca the "killer of the whales." It preys on sperm, gray, fin, humpback, and other whales.
QUESTION :
1. Why does killer whale is classified into groups of dolphins, not into groups of whales?
QUESTION :
1. Why does killer whale is classified into groups of dolphins, not into groups of whales?
