Did You Know that "Killer Whales" Are Actually Dolphins?

by Max Moreno, age 9

Many people think that sharks are at the top of the food chain in the ocean, but that is not true. The correct answer is the Orca, also known as the killer whale.

There are about five species of killer whales. Orcas are not only deadly but they are also the largest members of the dolphin family, they can weigh more than 13,000 pounds. These creatures may look like a friendly type of dolphin. However, when dinner time comes, they become vicious hunters. Orcas are apex predators that can hunt alone or groups called pods. Each pod can have between five to 30 orcas. They can eat almost any ocean animal, and unlike other ocean predators, they hunt other warm blooded animals. Orcas' diet consists of fish, squid, baby whales, sharks, seals, and even whales larger in size.

Killer whales are able to capture their prey by emitting high frequency clicks and then listening for their echo to bounce back from objects in the water, such as prey. Additionally, Orcas have skilled tactics to capture prey when they try to escape. For example, sometimes seals get on pieces of ice to avoid being hunted in the water. Rather than giving up, Orcas can swim at top speeds to create huge waves that push seals off the ice causing them to become prey. To add on, Orcas usually play with their food, sometimes they play to keep their hunting skills up and sometimes it's just for fun.

They live in all of the world's oceans, both the Southern and Northern hemispheres. Scientists can determine whether an orca is male or female by observing their fins. The male killer whales have larger fins, while the females have smaller fins.

Orcas have a thick layer of blubber under their skin that keeps them warm. Additionally, they have a blowhole located on top of their head for breathing. Their eyes are located on the sides of the head and are often confused for white spots. However, these white spots are just a pattern. Their eyes are located under this white pattern.

Orcas are extremely intelligent and curious creatures of the sea. While most see them as fun animals that can do flips and cool moves, they can be some of the most dangerous predators and are the true king of the oceans.

[Source: The Encyclopedia of Animals ]