Here are some fun, interesting, and very true facts about..... Orcas!Did you know that... -orcas, also known as killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins -orcas live in every ocean around the world -adults average 18-24 ft long -newborns are about 8 ft long -adults weigh 2-6 tons (4,000-12,000 lbs) -newborns weigh about 400 lbs -the largest orca ever recorded was 32 ft long and weighed 11 tons (22,000 lbs)! That's about the size of a bus! -male orcas have dorsal fins standing up to 6 ft tall (the tallest of any whale) -orcas have a life span of 50-90 years -they have good eyesight both above and under the surface -orcas usually swim 3-4 mph, but can reach speeds up to 30 mph! -a male orca is called a bull, a female is called a cow, and babies are called calves -orcas give birth every 3-10 years -orcas are often trained for aquarium shows --------------------------Hunting-------------------------- -orcas are often referred to as "wolves of the sea" -they eat seals, sea lions, fish, squid, seabirds, penguins, sea turtles, sharks, and even other whales! (depending on where they live) -orcas may eat about 500 lbs each day! -orcas live and hunt together in pods of about 40 -they use echolocation to communicate and hunt -orcas have about 45 teeth, each about 3 inches long! -orcas don't chew food, they rip & tear their prey -orcas can swallow small seals and sea lions whole! -Animals looking down on an orca from above might not see it because the whale's black back blends with the water below. -Animals looking up from below might not see an orca because the whale's white belly blends with the light streaming down into the sea from the surface. Sources: *http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/killer-whale/ *http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/orca/ *http://library.thinkquest.org/3926/interesting.html
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Wanna learn about more animals? Visit other animal of the month pages:
Monkey Mania-April 2012 Penguins- may 2012 Chinchillas- June 2012 Orcas- July 2012 Seals- September 2012 |
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