They can even jump up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) out of the water! Sometimes they just do this to have fun, but they can also do this to deliberately land on prey. They can also roll to one side on the surface of the water while flapping their fins. They can also breach (land on the surface on their side or back with a huge splash) and spy-hop (come out of the water vertically, as if standing). They can ride waves and can “porpoise” (continuously soar out of and back in to the water) in order to save energy. In spite of their large bodies, killer whales can swim up to 28 miles (45 kilometers) per hour. Speed & Agility One Ocean (Killer Whale Show) Sea World Killer whales also have good vision, both in and out of the water, far better than that of land mammals, and their sense of touch is well-developed, as well, and is especially sensitive around the eyes and mouth.ĥ. In comparison, humans can only hear frequencies within 20 Hz (a low rumble) to 20 kHz (a shrill whistle), cats can hear from 55 Hz to 77 kHz and bats can hear from 10 kHz to 115 kHz. Killer whales may not have a sense of smell but they have an excellent sense of hearing, able to hear sound frequencies (pitch) at a range of 18 hertz to 120 kilohertz. Killer Senses Image credit: spDuchamp cc2.0 In fact, there is a report that one killer whale launched a sea lion twenty feet into the air.Ĥ. With its strong tail, it can force prey to the surface, strike it or even send it flying into the air. The killer whale has a powerful tail, which not only helps it swim but also helps it to catch prey. Tail One Ocean (Killer Whale Show) Sea World Killer whales are well-known for grabbing large sea mammals like seals and sea lions straight off the ice.ģ. Also, the front teeth are inclined forward and outward, preventing the killer whale from getting hurt when its prey tries to jerk free. Therefore, when the killer whale’s mouth is closed, it is able to maintain a powerful grip. There are gaps between the teeth, with the upper teeth falling into the gaps of the lower teeth. While the killer whale’s teeth are sharp, they are not made for piercing or cutting - they’re made for grasping and tearing. Because of this, the teeth are very strong and completely covered in thick enamel. Unlike sharks, which grow new teeth whenever the old ones fall out, killer whales have only one set of teeth. Taken on Jat 11:48 JST, WakayamaĮach adult killer whale has a total of 40 to 56 teeth at any time, each about 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) long and 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter. It uses its large body to ram against prey, stunning them and making them easier to kill.Ģ. The size of the killer whale also helps it during hunting. Indeed, the killer whale has no natural predators its cause of death often old age - at 80 years or more - or sickness. Instead, these whales sometimes become prey for the killer whale. It is too big even for the carnivorous, toothed whales (that are two to three times their size) to eat: these whales usually eat fish and squid. Even people have rarely hunted killer whales - they were more likely to join with them in a whale hunt.

In comparison, the great white shark is 13 to 17 feet (4 to 5.2 meters) long and weighs 1 to 3 tons (907 to 2722 kilograms).īecause of the size of the killer whale, it does not fall prey to any other creature in the ocean. The largest killer whale ever caught was 32 feet long (9.8 meters) and weighed 11 tons (9979 kilograms) - that’s nearly as long as a bus and as heavy as a full-grown African elephant! Normally, killer whales range from 16 to 26 feet (4.9 to 7.9 meters) long and weigh 3 to 6 tons (2722 to 5443 kilograms). Here are twelve reasons why the killer whale is at the top of the food chain in the ocean. It may not be a whale - it is actually a dolphin - but it definitely is a killer. There is a reason why this marine mammal is so named. While sharks are indeed fierce predators which relentlessly hunt fish, seals, dolphins, small whales, sea turtles, squid, crab and sea birds whenever there is an opportunity, and while they are known to attack humans, sharks actually fall prey to another creature of the sea - the killer whale. Think the shark is the top predator in the world’s oceans? Think again. Killer Whales Taken at Marineland, Niagara Falls. 12 Reasons Why the Killer Whale Is the Ocean’s Top Predator!

Top 10 apex predators