Orcinus orca
Belong to the sub order of toothed whales
AKA odontocetes
Belong to the sub order of toothed whales
AKA odontocetes
Orcas inhabit all corners of the ocean. They can be found most commonly in the colder waters of Antarctica, Alaska and Norway. However, they can also be found in tropical and subtropical waters.
Orcas are a carniverous mammal, meaning they only consume meat. They eat a large variety of sea creatures such as fish, seals, sea lions, dolphins, sharks, large whales and cephalopods. Orcas hunt in packs in order to kill these sea animals, utilizing their communication skills via clicks and other manners.
In addition to their large size (a male weighing up to nearly 10,000 kgs), orcas are very fast swimmers, being capable of swimming up to 54 kmph. They were given the name "killer whale" because of the way that early sailors observed them hunting whales, though they are more closely related to dolphins.