A Killer whale (Orcinus orca) is named 'killer whale', not because it kills humans, but because it kills other whales. They inhabit all oceans, but are most numerous in the Arctic ocean and the Antarctic. Sightings in warm waters are less frequent, but do occur. Killer whales migrate along with other species, on which they hunt, or even pack ice. Despite their beautiful appearance they are not considered an endangered species. Estimates in studies range from 70,000 to 180,000 in the Antarctic. The killer whale is the largest predator of mammals that exists on earth today. Male killer whales average 5.8 to 6.7 m and weigh between 3,500 and 5,500 kg. Orcas can swim as fast as 48.4 kilometers per hour, making them the second fastest mammal. Toothed whales are social animals, orcas (killer whales) travel in social units called pods, containing one adult male, several adult breeding females and a number of sub-adults of both sexes. Sizes may vary from as few as 4 to as many as 40. There is an occasional exchange of members between pods, especially during breeding season. They have an extremely varied diet, as far as animals living in the oceans are concerned, ranging from fish to birds, seals and even other whales.
Some researchers believe killer whales sleep using only one brain hemisphere at a time.
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The Killer whale, orca is listed as Conservation Dependent (LR/cd), the focus of a continuing taxon-specific or habitat-specific conservation programme targeted towards the taxon in question, the cessation of which would result in the taxon qualifying for one of the threatened categories below within a period of five years, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Namings for the killer whale
A young / baby of a killer whale is called a 'calf'. The females are called 'cow' and males 'bull'. A killer whale group is called a 'gam, pod or herd'.Countries
Algeria, Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Faroe Islands, France, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Germany, Greenland, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, North, Korea, South, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam and Western SaharaSome facts about the
Killer whale
Adult weight : 3987.5 kg (8772.5 lbs)
Maximum longevity : 90 years
Female maturity :3780 days
Male maturity : 4930 days
Gestation : 435 days
Weaning : 471 days
Litter size : 1
Interval between litters : 1096 days
Weight at birth : 180 kg (396 lbs)
Mortality rate doubling time : 14 years
