Facts about Orca

1. 07

   Female orcas typically give birth to a single calf every five to ten years after reaching sexual maturity around age fifteen.

   OrcaMay 14sharebiologyreproductionlifecycle
2. 06

   Killer whales demonstrate distinct regional dialects within their pods, with some populations in the Pacific Northwest maintaining unique call patterns unchanged for over 30 years.

   OrcaMay 14sharebehaviorcommunicationculture
3. 05

   Transient orca populations in the North Pacific hunt large whales cooperatively, with groups of 6 to 15 individuals working together to exhaust and kill prey weighing up to 60 tons.

   OrcaMay 14sharebehaviorhuntingpredation
4. 04

   Orca echolocation clicks can reach frequencies up to 130 kilohertz, allowing them to detect fish and squid in complete darkness or murky ocean water.

   OrcaMay 14sharebiologysensoryhunting
5. 03

   Orca matriarchs can live over 90 years, making them among the longest-lived mammals and allowing them to transmit decades of hunting knowledge to younger generations.

   OrcaMay 14sharebiologybehaviorlifespan
6. 02

   Adult male orcas can weigh up to 6 tons and reach lengths of 32 feet, making them the largest dolphins in the world.

   OrcaMay 14sharebiologymeasurementmarine
7. 01

   Pods of orcas in the Pacific Northwest can dive to depths exceeding 3,000 feet while hunting for prey.

   OrcaMay 14sharebiologymeasurementbehavior