general information about killer whale

The killer whale belongs to the order Ordo cetaceans, suborder Subordo toothed whales, family Familia delphinidae, species Genus killer whale Orcinus, species Speeies killer whale Oreinus arca.

Killer whales are the largest of the dolphins. Their mass can reach up to 9 tons. They are called killer whales; the ancient Romans called them orcs, which means demons. Both divers and divers are afraid of them. In the diver's reference guide it is written about them that if you are attacked by a killer whale, then everything is already predetermined for you, there is no salvation.

Habitat- near the shore and open water.

Species status- common.

Number of groups - 3-25 (1-50).

Dorsal fin location- slightly shifted forward.

Newborn weight- up to 180 kg.

Adult weight- 2.6-9 t.

Newborn length- 2.1-2.7 m.

Adult Length- females up to 8.7 m (with the number of dentin layers on the teeth up to 29), males up to 10 m.

Nutrition- fish, cephalopods and marine mammals.


general information

The largest and very agile carnivorous dolphins. Fossil remains of this species were discovered in Italy (Tuscany) and England (Suffolk) in Pliocene deposits (about 1.5 million years ago), and the remains of the ancestors of the killer whale dating back to the prehistoric period were found in Northern Europe. Killer whales are social animals. Their herds usually consist of one male leader, several adult females and young whales of both sexes. Almost every flock has its own section of water area, where it feeds and which it protects from strangers.

Animals from the same area have their own language, so when studying different populations use features of “pronunciation” as the main distinctive feature. Whales feed mainly on fish (salmon), although they do not disdain warm-blooded animals. In the southern hemisphere, the main diet consists of seals ( sea ​​lions and seals) and penguins. There are known cases of killer whales hunting other whales - fin whales, vomiting whales, young humpback whales.

In the Middle Ages, this species was often found, along with whales, off the coast of the Gulf of Gascony. It was during these times that its most ancient French name appeared: epolar. Some authors have found it possible to identify the killer whale with " orca" ancient: but the animal mentioned, in particular by Pliny, under the name orca denoted an unidentified cetacean, which could be either a killer whale or a sperm whale.

As noted by Georges Cuvier in early XIX c., the animal briefly sketched by ancient authors under the name of killer whale, most likely corresponds to what the Latins called " aries marinus", that is, a "sea ram", which may have been associated with a white spot behind the eye, which represented something like a horn.

Orca behavior

Finally, the oldest Latin name related to killer whale are Delphinus orca, or "killer whale dolphin". Because of the reputation gained the most dangerous killer killer whale got its English name killer whale("killer whale"). The killer whale was also a character in Indian myths North America. The Russian name presumably comes from the word "braid", which is associated with tall dorsal males. According to group observations, killer whales contain on average slightly more adults (57%) than calves (43%), of which about 4% are still breast-fed. Among adults, the number of females is slightly higher than the number of males (34 and 23%, respectively), which is undoubtedly explained by the higher mortality rate among the latter. Each group resembles a family, using its own acoustic repertoire, by which it is easy to distinguish. Very stable, it can nevertheless disintegrate over several hours, especially while searching for food. Individual animals or several subgroups then swim together, but at a distance of several kilometers from each other.

However, the stability of the group is not absolute, and some individuals may choose independence. Family groups usually independent in relation to each other. However, several of them can unite in a community for the breeding season.

Research has yielded something like a typical killer whale daily routine: 46% of its time, that is, about half, is devoted to searching for food and catching prey; 27% - displacement; 13% - games and sexual activity; 12% - rest and sleep. Meetings with other groups take up the remaining approximately 2% of the time. These types of activities are replaced sequentially, in a certain order: for example, rest usually replaces hunting and can continue with games that precede movements.

Killer whales often adopt a position convenient for observing their surroundings. Once on the surface, they sharply raise their heads out of the water or stretch out vertically, sometimes appearing to the level of their pectoral fins, as if to take in the entire horizon with their gaze. Several animals from the group and young animals can take the observation position at the same time. Often, when entering into play with other members of the herd, the killer whale sharply hits the water with its fins. The noise it makes by quickly slapping the surface of the water with its pectoral fins or rhythmically beating it with its tail blade quickly spreads through the water. Sticking her tail out of the water, she swings it from side to side for a long time or makes amazing jumps: almost completely jumping out of the water, she dives head first or, most often, falls heavily on her belly, back or side, raising clouds of spray. Like other dolphins, killer whales love to touch each other. These contacts between individuals are short-lived; the animals spend much more time, sometimes about an hour, rubbing against certain stones at the bottom, which are used only for this purpose. Swimming past algae, killer whales cannot resist the urge to touch them and bring some of the plants to the surface in order to better feel their touch on their caudal fins. It is unknown whether this is done for play, pleasure or out of necessity.

In dense schools of fish, it can graze peacefully with other cetaceans. But if there are no fish or shellfish, it can attack any species of minke whales and gray whales, many species of dolphins and pinnipeds, sea otters, penguins and even dugongs in the seaweed. When dealing with large prey, predators act in a herd, while females with cubs stay away, but are very active when eating prey. Killer whales open their mouths, sink their teeth into its throat, shred its massive tongue, bite its fins, and drown its prey, preventing it from coming to the surface to breathe. Occasionally, predators attack families of sperm whales if there are calves among them. Killer whales tear their prey sharply, paddling towards themselves with their pectoral fins. Predators first surround a herd of seals, walruses or dolphins, and then destroy them one by one. With a blow from below, they throw off the seals dozing on the ice floes.

With a coordinated search, killer whales find schools of fish more easily. They disperse, forming a chain of hunters 2 km long, and swim at a speed of about 5 km/h. So they can examine??? using echolocation about 10 km 2 per hour - significantly large area compared to what a single killer whale or dense group could cover. Echolocation signals allow each animal to determine its position relative to the others, remain in contact with them, and participate in the general activities of the group. However, they are not enough when it is necessary to precisely coordinate the actions of the entire group, especially when we're talking about about the surroundings of a school of fish; in such cases, the killer whale uses sound signals.

Methods that work well when searching for schools of fish are completely unsuitable when killer whales hunt marine mammals. This type of hunting has its own characteristics - after all, future victims can either hear predators, catching the sounds they make, which is available to cetaceans (whales or dolphins), or see them, which pinnipeds are capable of. This is why killer whales explore the waters in complete silence, relying only on their hearing. It is thanks to him that predators detect prey by the noise it makes when moving or by the signals it emits. Killer whales are also well aware of the places where whales, seals and fur seals usually gather at certain times of the year to breed.

Tooth marks from killer whale bites were found on the bodies of 53% of examined fin whales, 24% of sei whales, 6% of minke whales and 65% of sperm whales. Before eating their prey, predators play with their prey and teach their cubs the art of hunting. These cetaceans usually do not attack humans, but they also do not show fear of them when approaching whaling ships and boats. In captivity, they are peaceful, quickly get used to people and take food from hands.

They are very fast (up to 55 km/h), often change course and quickly recognize danger. The cub is growing quickly. During the first year, he apparently feeds only on his mother's milk, which he never leaves. If he is hungry, he “begs” for milk, lightly pushing his nose into the mother’s belly next to the nipple, and deftly catches the stream of life-giving liquid splashed out by her.



The killer whale is one of the largest and most beautiful sea animals. The largest killer whale is up to 10 meters long and weighs up to 8 tons. These mammals are an intermediate form between the whale and the dolphin. Killer whales are fierce predators, but natural conditions they do not attack humans. These sea giants are distinguished by great strength, intelligence and intelligence, which allows them to successfully live and reproduce in difficult conditions. modern world.

There are only three types of killer whales on our planet:

  • big killer whale;
  • small or black killer whale;
  • pygmy killer whale (pheresa).

All these animal species have very big sizes and solid weight.

This is the most close-up view orcas. The largest specimens grow up to 10 m in length and weigh up to 8 tons. They look like whales and dolphins at the same time. The body of a killer whale is more like a dolphin. It is dense, compact, with small pectoral fins. This animal has a large sharp fin on its back. The skin of the back is painted black, and the belly and lower jaw are white. There are two white spots on the back of the sides and near the eyes. Moreover, for each animal they are individual, by them you can recognize this or that individual.


Unlike the dolphin, the killer whale has a more rounded and blunt muzzle. When she exhales air, she releases a fountain like a whale. Just like whales, killer whales have excellent hearing, they communicate with sounds over very long distances and use echolocation. These animals have large sharp teeth(cone-shaped) and can tear off large pieces of meat with them. The size of the teeth is up to 12 cm.

The killer whale's skin is smooth and shiny, its entire body resembles a torpedo, ready for battle. It’s not for nothing that she makes such an impression; this sea predator is a magnificent hunter. In their behavior, killer whales resemble wolves; they gather in packs and surround their prey. Their food is fish, seals, and dolphins. Killer whales also hunt walruses, penguins and other sea inhabitants.


Killer whales live up to 40-50 years, but there are individuals that live up to 90 years. The leader of the pack is the strongest and most experienced female, and the families are headed by her sisters or daughters. Matriarchy has been observed in killer whales. These animals are viviparous mammals. Each female gives birth to up to 7 cubs during her life. You can distinguish a male from a female by its large dorsal fin and larger size.

The big killer whale is found in all deep seas and oceans of the Earth, although it prefers cold waters. Many large killer whales can be seen off the coasts of Chile, Patagonia and Alaska. They are attracted here by schools of fish, which large quantities found in cold currents.


Large killer whales are divided into resident and transitory ones. Resident killer whales hunt fish and do not leave familiar places, and transit ones roam all seas in search of large animals. Even whales are victims of packs of these hunters. The British call the killer whale a killer whale. All the inhabitants of the seas are afraid of her.

But at the same time, these animals have the friendly disposition of a dolphin. They are friends with each other and take care of old and sick members of the pack. Killer whales are friendly towards people and are easy to train.

2. Lesser or black killer whale

Small or black killer whales have a body length of up to 6 meters and a weight of up to 2 tons. The skin of this killer whale is completely black, only on the neck and throat it has a gray tint. Its dorsal fin is shaped like a sickle. Outwardly, this animal looks like a large killer whale, but much smaller. The black killer whale has 20 large conical teeth on each jaw. So when she opens her mouth, she appears to be smiling. This animal was even nicknamed in scientific circles the “smiley” or false killer whale. These killer whales live up to 60 years.


"Smile" of a black killer whale

The small killer whale feeds on fish and is less predatory than the large one. These giants live in temperate and tropical waters, in the Atlantic, Red and Mediterranean seas, in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Small killer whales gather in large flocks, they do not migrate long distances, but live in their own zone of the ocean. In Russian waters, a black killer whale appears near Kuril Islands, in the Japanese and Baltic seas.

There have been cases when black killer whales in large groups washed ashore. The reasons for this phenomenon have not yet been solved. Environmentalists and local people are helping the animals return to the water.

Pygmy killer whales have a body length of up to 2.5 m and a weight of up to 200 kg. Their structure is similar to a whale and a dolphin. This rare view dolphin family. Skin color is black, there is a White spot. It happens that the belly and sides are slightly whiter than the back. This killer whale's head is relatively small size, round, with a small mouth. The dorsal fin is triangular, its height reaches 30 cm.


Feresa is the rarest and most heat-loving of all killer whales. Its habitat extends to subtropical zones oceans. These animals can be found off the coast of Australia, Africa, Hawaiian Islands and in Gulf of Mexico. Dwarf killer whales feed on fish, which they deftly catch with the entire pod. They are marine viviparous mammals. This species has not yet been studied enough.

  • All orcas give birth to their young with their tails first. The mother helps the baby float to the surface of the sea to breathe air. During the birth of a calf, all members of the herd surround the female to protect her from enemies, and then greet the newborn.
  • Female killer whales live twice as long as males. Males live up to 30 years, and females live up to 60.
  • Each group of killer whales communicates using a specific range of sounds. These sounds are different for different groups, they can be compared with different languages in people.
  • Killer whales have a good appetite; they can eat up to 160 kg of food per day.
  • Long (12 cm) teeth help killer whales easily cope with sharks, walruses and even small whales.
  • This marine animal has the second largest brain among mammals and is intelligent and quick-witted.
  • Killer whales swim at speeds of up to 50 km per hour.

  • Killer whales live in large groups, led by the strongest and wisest females.
  • Strong individuals hunt in a group of killer whales. Mothers with cubs remain on the sidelines, but also receive their share of the spoils.
  • It has been noticed that each large group of these animals has its own methods of hunting, which they pass on to new generations.

Of all the species, the largest is the great killer whale. The largest individuals of this species grow up to 10 meters in length and have a body weight of up to 8 tons. Killer whales have a reputation for being bloodthirsty sea ​​predators. But in fact, they hunt only to satisfy their need for food, and do not kill in vain. In aquariums, these animals live peacefully together with walruses and seals, because they are well fed. These sea giants are easy to train and friendly towards people. IN wildlife There have been no recorded attacks of killer whales on people.

The killer whale (killer whale) is a marine cetacean of the dolphin family. Sea dolphin – sole representative in its origin.

They are boldly said to be superpredators because they can consume all marine life.

Description

“Carnivorous dolphins” is the name given to the killer whale. The killer whale received this nickname due to its diet.

These animals will have anyone they want for dinner, as they are capable of swimming at speeds of over 50 km/h. Killer whales can even feed.

There is a lot of information on the Internet where you can see what killer whales are shown on video high level your intellect. A mammal raised outside its will, it is easy to train. IN open ocean big dolphin also reveals its ability by transferring hunting skills to the whales.

Habitat

The range of the animals is wide, so it is difficult to answer where the killer whale lives. Most often, killer whales prefer cold or temperate waters, but they are also found in the tropics.

Just like other sea creatures, it tends to places overflowing with food. The natural prey of these mammals are fish and seals, so the habitat of killer whales coincides with the range fur seals, powerful schools of fish.

Appearance

The killer whale is the same large dolphin. They are distinguished only by color. The black and white color will immediately give away the killer whale. In the northern part Pacific Ocean You can see completely white or black representatives of this species. These types of mammals are considered rare.

These representatives of the fauna have huge size . The average length of a male is 10 m, a female is 7. However, the weight of females is 2 times less. The average weight of an adult killer whale is 8 tons. The teeth of predators reach 15 cm. The size of the animal can frighten large inhabitants ocean.

Lifestyle

These animals mate in winter, as this is the most favorable time of the year. The killer whale is a mammal, so it carries a whale in the uterus for 16-17 months.

The female is capable of producing offspring for 25 years. During this time, she manages to give birth to up to 7 cubs. However, females have been recorded age 90. A predatory animal can catch a victim with its own jaws, jumping to the surface, or turn over an ice floe on which a seal is hiding. Sometimes sea ​​dolphins hunts with the pack.

Nutrition

To understand what these animals feed on, just think about why killer whales are called killer whales. First of all, they are predators. Their diet includes:

There are several populations of these mammals and each of them prefers different foods. Solitary whales are called killer whales. Such individuals can even attack deer swimming across a water canal. Grouped animals eat fish. The daily norm for a male is 150 kg of meat.

Reproduction

Individuals can mate both vertically and horizontally, turning their bellies towards each other. The process itself looks like a game. Whales rub their fins and jump over their partner.

The killer whale is a viviparous animal. They are usually fertilized in winter and don't give birth until the following spring. Unlike human births, whales' tail comes out first and the umbilical cord breaks near the belly.

Milk is very fatty and rich in protein, so large mammals feed their young a small dose, but every 15-20 minutes. First, the male feeds the family, and then the grown-up baby whale, together with its father, learns to get food on its own.

Taxonomy

For the first time the world carnivorous mammals was opened to the common people in 58 of the 18th century. Today there are three types:

  • Sedentary. Range: northeastern Pacific Ocean. Food: fish, squid. Character traits– rounded dorsal fin.
  • Nomadic. The habitat is exclusively sea. Food: pinnipeds. Characteristic features: females have triangular dorsal fins.
  • Migratory. Range: western shore of Vancouver. Food is most often fish, but sometimes sharks. Characteristic features - they live in groups of 10 to 150 individuals far from the coast.

Meaning

The saltwater dolphin is found in almost all oceans and seas. In Russia she lives in Kuril ridges and Commander Islands. This animal is the top of the food chain, which gives them an advantage in obtaining food, although individuals of this species are in the Red Book.

These predators feed on almost any animal they come across. Despite this, people and killer whales are quite friendly with each other. Whales are highly trainable due to their love of dancing, but there have been several recorded cases of attacks on humans.

Enemies

When a killer whale is on the hunt, all the inhabitants of the ocean hide from it. It is very difficult to remember an animal that can defeat this giant. In addition, this predator is intelligent, which gives another indisputable advantage. However, people and animals can enter into battle. The first managed to tame sea animals with music.

But there have been recorded cases of killer whales attacking people. They are trying sea ​​giants avoid sperm whales, dolphins and tiger sharks. These representatives of the fauna can injure them.

Lifespan

Females live longer. Average duration the lifespan of males is 35 years, females - 50. However, individuals aged 90 years were found. Such cases are the exception to the rule. Outside their free will, animals live less.

Red Book

Despite the fact that killer whales live in almost all waters and feed on all marine life, they are listed in the Red Book. These individuals began to die out due to pollution of the hydrosphere. Great amount waste is harmful to the body. Echolocation is disrupted by the noise of passing ships. This is the answer to the question “Why do killer whales wash ashore?” IN Lately Their population has greatly decreased. Scientists still cannot give an exact explanation.

  • The ability of giant sea predators to train is compared to the same level as dolphins.
  • In 2010, during training, a killer whale grabbed a 40-year-old female trainer by the hair and pulled her to the bottom.
  • Each white spot on a killer whale is unique, like a human fingerprint.
  • These individuals are social creatures. Hunting of animals is often planned.

Do you know that...

These are predators that do not have a brain or eyes. But they have huge jaws, the size of the worm is impressive, more than 3 meters.

The killer whale is well known thanks to numerous films filmed off the coast of North America or Patagonia (Argentina). This marine mammal is distributed throughout almost the entire world's oceans, found both near the coast and in open waters, but mainly adheres to the 800 km coastal strip. However, few people know that this formidable cosmopolitan predator is also part of the fauna of Russia. This is a typical inhabitant of the seas Far East and a frequent visitor to the Barents and White Seas.
Little is known about the peculiarities of its life in Russian waters.
When this largest of all dolphins swims, it is impossible to confuse it with any other. The main identifying mark of killer whales is a huge vertical dorsal fin that breaks through the waves. In the male it can reach 2 m (the largest fin of all the inhabitants of the seas and oceans!), in the female it is somewhat smaller and crescent-shaped. This is where it came from Russian name, given for the similarity of the fin to the scythe. The contrasting black and white coloration of the animal is also characteristic, although in the Far East, completely black individuals are occasionally found, in which only the supraorbital spot is white. In 2012, biologists photographed a white male killer whale for the first time!
Most killer whales are sedentary, or resident, families that do not touch aquatic mammals, and hunt local fish species in their region, uniting in schools of 5-15 individuals.


Dangerous and vulnerable


It is no coincidence that the British call the killer whale “killer whale.” It is enough to see its powerful jaws with 28 massive teeth up to 13 cm high and up to 5 cm in diameter. At the same time, the front teeth, slightly protruding forward, are adapted to sharp jerks of strong resisting prey.
The killer whale can reach speeds of up to 55 km/h, remain under water for up to 5-6 minutes, and search for prey using ultrasonic echolocation. All this characterizes it as a dangerous predator. At the same time, being at the top of the food pyramid of the ecosystems of the World Ocean, the killer whale has a very low number and is very vulnerable to any changes that humans make to the life of the seas.


Family and pack


The killer whale, like most dolphins, is a highly social animal that lives in a close-knit group. Typically a family consists of a female with cubs of different ages and adult sons. Several families, led by female relatives (daughters, sisters or cousins), form a flock. One group contains an average of 18 individuals, and its members are strongly attached to each other. Their relationship is very friendly, healthy killer whales take care of the old, sick or crippled. In addition to the sounds common to all killer whales, each pod has its own dialect.
Several such groups can unite, for example, to hunt together. Since all members of one pod are relatives, it is assumed that mating in killer whales occurs during the unification of several pods.
The female produces offspring no more than once every three years. Childbirth usually occurs on summer months. After a pregnancy lasting 15-17 months, one calf appears, up to 2.7 m long. This “baby” comes out tail first, which reduces the risk of choking during birth. Supported by his mother, he instinctively rushes upward, where the first breath takes place. Females over 40 years old do not take part in reproduction, but actively help their daughters and granddaughters in protecting and raising their offspring.


Great Hunter of the Ocean


You probably won’t find another predator as versatile as the killer whale. After all, she can catch such small fry as capelin, and with combined efforts attack such a giant of the oceans as blue whale! Even among terrestrial predators it is difficult to find analogues. The variety of killer whale hunting conditions and food acquisition methods is amazing! This is facilitated by the high level of communication capabilities of this intelligent animal.
By exchanging various signals (ultrasounds and sounds of more low frequencies), killer whales are able to coordinate their efforts in hunting and fishing. Adults teach young ones, and different regions develop their own traditional techniques used for hunting certain animals.

The most common hunt is for schooling fish. Killer whales surround and force the fish into a tight school, then grab it with their mouths, straining the water through their teeth. They also catch squid. Such killer whales - fishermen, unlike seal hunters, usually stay in large groups - several dozen individuals. Sometimes they attack sharks, including large predatory species. The best hunting time for killer whales in the Far Eastern seas is the time of migration of schools of salmon to spawning grounds. Then they feed on pink salmon, chum salmon, sockeye salmon and other salmon, without being distracted by other prey. Further north, schools of smelt and herring are chasing.
However, the killer whale did not receive the nickname “killer whale” for fishing. She is the only representative of the cetacean order that regularly hunts warm-blooded animals. Few people are immune from attacks by this intelligent and inventive predator. In the Far Eastern waters, the killer whale preys on fur seals, sea lions and local species of seals. To the north, closer to arctic ice, hunts walruses and beluga whales. Here killer whales often stalk seals and walruses on floating ice. Then, with a concerted effort, they push the ice floe from below to swing it and shake the victim into the water.
Attacks of killer whales on baleen whales have been repeatedly noted. In the Northern Pacific, hunting of gray whales and humpback whales, which prefer to stay close to the coasts, was more common. During this hunt, killer whales surround the sea giant in large groups and, at the same time attacking, tear the prey to pieces with their terrible jaws. Usually they attack a whale from the front, because the whale has nothing to bite, and with a blow from its huge tail it can easily kill the enemy.
In the entire World Ocean, besides the killer whale, there is only carcharodon ( White shark) - an equally powerful predator - cosmopolitan. These two species practically share their habitat. Carcharodon is an inhabitant of tropical, subtropical and temperate warm seas, and the killer whale, as a more voracious predator, prefers the very cold, but also more productive seas of the North and Southern hemispheres. Killer whales attack encountered white sharks. In turn, carcharodons, like other sharks, clearly avoid encounters with killer whales.


Brief characteristics of the killer whale


Class: mammals
Squad: cetaceans
Family: dolphins
Genus: killer whales
View: killer whale
Latin name: Orcinus orca
Size: 8 m
Weight: 9 t
Color: black with white
Lifespan: 50-60 years

Killer whales are a thunderstorm northern seas. Photo large predator, feeding on fish and sea animals, can be seen everywhere.

They are the largest and most dangerous predators ocean. They have a characteristic black and White color, making it impossible to confuse them with other species. Like dolphins, which are very close relatives, they navigate and find food using the sense of echolocation.

Killer whales have a very individual, black and white coloration. Thanks to it, these whales cannot be confused with other representatives of this species. Killer whales are close relatives of dolphins, and, like relatives, they successfully use echolocation when moving and during hunting.

Killer whales have a fairly rich menu: they are not averse to snacking sea ​​turtle, penguin or octopus. But their main favorite product is considered to be fur seal. Depending on the size of the fur seal population, the number of killer whales will also depend.

These whales live in schools, just like dolphins. When a collective hunt is brewing among killer whales, they can even attack a whale of a different species. These marine animals are very dangerous, but cases of attacks on people are extremely rare. Especially for gastronomic purposes.


Do you know that …

— A killer whale can swim more than 150 kilometers in a day.
— The killer whale’s teeth reach a length of 10 centimeters and a diameter of up to 5 centimeters.
- These marine mammals can swim at a speed of 60 km/hour.
— At birth, a baby killer whale can weigh more than 100 kilograms. This is achieved due to the length of 2 meters.
— The killer whale can dive to a depth of 1000 meters, remaining under water for more than 20 minutes.
— A killer whale lives up to 90 years.


Orca — close relative dolphins

Even more about killer whales

The representative of whales is called the killer whale, but killer whales are a species of swallows.


In nature, there are three types of killer whales: the black killer whale, the pygmy killer whale and the great killer whale. They differ in size from each other, and very significantly. Eg, little killer whale reaches a length of 5 - 6 meters, the dwarf killer whale does not grow more than 2.5 meters, but large killer whales can be 10 meters long!


U various types The habitat of killer whales is also different. The small species of killer whales prefers warmer and moderately warm zones of seas and oceans to live. Representatives of large killer whales, on the contrary, inhabit cold waters, although they can be found in other waters as well. climatic zones oceans. As for the dwarf killer whale, it is the most heat-loving of all its previous brothers. Pygmy killer whales can be observed near the coast of the African continent, Australia, and near the Hawaiian Islands.

As you know, killer whales live in herds, but the number of groups differs depending on the species. The larger the killer whales, the smaller the herd.


Killer whales are highly intelligent animals.

As for intelligence, these sea animals are no stupider than dolphins. They have the skills to communicate with each other, talking using a huge palette of sounds! Scientists say that killer whales are even capable of making sentences out of sounds.

Listen to the voice of the killer whale


Killer whales are very peaceful towards their fellow members of the pod and are always ready to help. Groups also have their own traditions: for example, throwing booty among themselves, a kind of “ family game to football." But don’t think that killer whales are just as kind to other animals that inhabit aquatic environment, no, no, it's quite the opposite!