Killer WhalesBy Brooke R.

Physical Characteristics

They are black and white

They have a dorsal fin on back and flipper on each side

They can weigh up to 8,000lbs and can be 19 -22 feet long

Behavioral Characteristics

They usually travel in a pod of 6 -50 orcas

They communicate and locate food by making clicking sounds

They like to jump out of the water to see what is going on above. That is called spy hopping

habitat

Seas and oceans

Prefer higher latitudes and coastal areas

Occasionally can be found in fresh water rivers

Food Preferences

Salmon and herring

Some eat other mammals like seals, sea lions and porpoises

Interesting Facts

Even though they are called killer whales they are actually dolphins

Pod leaders are the oldest females and usually outlive the males by 20 years