Jenna's little "Marine" World

Killer whales are easily recognized by their large size and striking black and white coloration. The dorsal surface and pectoral flippers are black except for a grayish patch (saddle) that lies behind the dorsal fin and a white eyespot located just above and slightly behind each eye. The ventral surface, lower jaw and undersides of the flukes are predominately bright white.

In mature males, the dorsal fin is tall and triangular and may reach a height of 1.8 m (6 ft.). Also, adult males tend to be larger than adult females. In most females, the dorsal fin is typically smaller and slightly falcate (curved back), reaching an average height of 0.9-1.2 m (3-4 ft.).

Calves: Calves average 2.6 m (8.5 ft.) in length while newborns weigh in around 136-181 kg (300-400 lb.)

Killer whales in a pod establish strong social bonds. Observers note that certain individuals are regularly seen associating with one another. The strongest association bonds in a pod are the mother/calf bonds.A mother killer whale stays close to her newborn calf and attentively directs its movements. The mother/calf bond weakens as a young killer whale matures, but for resident whales of the eastern North Pacific, it lasts throughout adulthood. In fact, these resident killer whales societies are unique in that a juvenile killer whale does not leave its mother or disperse from its maternal pod when it matures. In transient pods of the eastern North Pacific Ocean, a whale may leave its mother to travel alone or with other whales. As with many species, a social hierarchy exists within a group of killer whales. The hierarchy is female-dominant. Killer whales within a pod may rank themselves and establish dominance by slapping their tails against the water, head-butting, jaw-snapping, biting, raking (tooth-scratching), and various other vigorous postures and gestures. SeaWorld observers noted that calves receive social discipline from their mothers and other significant adults. Discipline may be in the form of restraining (corralling the calf thus restricting its movements) or raking (tooth scratching).

Interactions between resident and transient pods have not been observed. When they are traveling in the same area, they most often appear to ignore each other. At other times, transient whales actively avoid resident whales.The most fundamental social unit in a pod is a matrilineal group, which may include two or three generations of whales. A two-generation matrilinealgroup consists of a female whale and her offspring. A three-generation matrilineal group also includes her “grandchildren,” the offspring of her female offspring. Individuals in a matrilineal group travel closely together.

Killer whales are active predators that eat a wide variety of fishes, squids, and marine mammals. Active and opportunistic, killer whales are without a doubt top predators in the ocean. In fact, they are the largest predator of warm-blooded animals alive today. Killer whales eat a wide variety of fishes, from surface-swimming salmon to bottom-dwelling halibut. They frequently prey on cod, hake, herring, and smelt. Some killer whales eat marine mammals including seals, sea lions, baleen whales, other toothed whales, walruses, and occasionally sea otters. Polar bears, reptiles, and even a moose have been found in the stomach contents of killer whales. Perhaps the most interesting thing found in the stomachs of killer whales is the remains of other killer whales. How this came to be is uncertain. Perhaps they scavenged the remains of dead killer whales, as killer whales are known to eat the remains of other animals. Some killer whales eat penguins and seabirds.

A Copllased dorsal fin has nothing to do with captivity at all despite what extremists claim. The Dorsal fin has no bone at all but it is just simply muscle and orca populations in New Zealand present the same thing too. It is a genetic secanrio. If one or both parents have a collapsed fin then, the chances of their offspring getting it later in life is a 50/50 chance. This means that the dorsal fin being bent has nothing to do with the health, or personalility of an animal. It acts like a baby tree.

The lifespan of an orca may be tested and depended on its daily survival skills. The Adverage lifespan for most male killer whales is around 35-40 years with the maxium being around 50-60 years(if lucky). The Lifespan for females on the other hand is more different and they may live longer than their male counterparts likely due to their child-bearing roles in orca society. The adverage lifespan for female killer whales is about 40-50 years with the maxium(if lucky) of 80+ years. Only a few live to see such an age like that and it would have to take an amazing years of survivial skills to outlive the dangers that the ocean may have to offer them.