Orca Orcinus
Isurus oxyrinchus

Killer whales are most closely related to Dolphins. They are mammals and must come to the surface to breathe. They live in all oceans but seem to prefer the cooler water. They live a long time, 50-80 years, probably because they are at the top of the food chain.

No other fish is capable of preying on them. Their diet consists of fish, squid, seals, sea lions, penguins, dolphins, porpoises and large whales like the blue whale. Some killer whales have been known to slide on to beaches in order to capture a good meal. Resident pods (pods that primarily reside in one area) prefer fish whereas transient pods (pods that travel over a relatively wide area) appear to target other marine mammals as prey.

Killer whales are very intelligent and very successful hunters due to their habit of cooperative hunting, where all animals within the pod participate. This coordination is apparently developed and learned within pods.

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