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Killer Whales are marine animals that live in oceans all over the world. Although they live in many oceans, they seem to prefer coastal waters and cooler regions. The Killer Whale, sometimes called an Orca, sometimes enters estuaries, but doesn’t go far from the sea.

Killer whales are one of the top predators in the sea. They are good hunters that eat a large variety of fish, squid, sharks, marine mammals (such as whales and seals), turtles, octopi, and birds (penguins and gulls). They have 10-13 pairs of large, interlocking conical, enameled teeth in both the upper and lower jaws (the orca has from 40 to 52 teeth). The teeth curve inwards and backwards, which helps the orca catch its prey. Teeth average about 3 inches long and about 1 inch in diameter, but some are even longer. Members of a pod often cooperate in hunts. An average-sized orca will eat 551 pounds of food a day.

Orcas live in small pods of about 6 - 40 whales; they are very social animals. The bonds between members of Killer Whale pods are strong and can last for life. The members of a pod hunt together, attacking even very large prey and then sharing it. The pod members always protect the young, the sick and the injured.

Orcas grow to be about 27-33 feet long, and weigh more than 8,000-12,000 pounds. The male orca is larger than the female. They are the largest member of the dolphin family. The Orca's skin is mostly black with white patches. Orcas have huge bodies and a rounded head with a distinctive beak. They have a tall, sickle-shaped dorsal fin and large, paddle-like flippers. The dorsal fin of the male is taller (up to 6 ft tall) and more upright than that of the female (whose dorsal fin is up to 4 ft tall).

Other facts: Orcas breathe air at the surface water through a blowhole located near the top of the head. Their blow is a single, bushy cloud.
Killer Whales are very fast swimmers. They can swim up to...