Killer Whale
The Killer Whale (Orcinus Orca) is the top predator of the Antarctic Ocean. It is one of the largest mammals in the ocean and is part of the dolphin family. The name “Orca” was given by the Romans because they were lots of them that time.
Killer Whales grow to be quite large with males reaching up to 8m in length and the female reaching up to 7m in length. The Killer Whale is black and white in colour with white patches around its eyes. They have large 10cm teeth and weigh up to 10tonnes.
Killer Whales can be located world-wide. Where they live depends on the temperature. The Killer Whales migrate in winter from Antarctica to go north where it is warmer.
The Killer Whale’s diet consist of several types of marine life like seals, sea lions, fish, squid, seabirds and even other whales. It is a carnivore and is the top predator of the Antarctic. Its only predator is humans. Humans hunt them for their oil to make perfume and their blubber to make soap. The Japanese also hunt them for research this is causing them to be endangered from overhunting them for their resources.
The “Orcinus Orca” can swim as fast as 48km to catch prey. Killer Whales use their pectoral, fins on the side, to help it swim to find food.
It takes 4-5 years for a female Killer Whale to mature and 15 years for the male Killer Whale to mature. Female Killer Whales can live up to 80-90 years and the male lives 50-60 years of age. Female Killer Whales can breed every 3-10 years. The gestation period is 18 months. When a baby is born it is roughly 2.4m long and can weigh about 180kg.
Killer Whales, they are unique mammals of the ocean and should be protected for future generations because they are both endangered species that are an important part of the Antarctic ecosystem.