Killer Whale
The Killer Whale (or Orca) is found throughout the world’s oceans, although it is more common in the north than the south, and seems to prefer coastal waters to p[em sea/ Although it has been hunted in the past, and little is known about the overall size of its population, it does not appear to be endangered.
Killer Whales are actually members of the dolphin family, but they are so much larger the other dolphins that they are popularly classified as whales. Adults range from 18 to 32 feet (5.5 to 10 meters ( long and weigh between 2.5 and 9 tons (2,540 to 9,144 kilograms). Their distinctive black-and-white markings and their unusually tall dorsal fin make them easy to recognize.
Despite their name, Killer Whales are not aggressive toward humans; in fact they are usually curious and friendly around boats, and seem to enjoy breaching, lobtailing and spyhopping. Fish have good reason to fear them, though. Killer Whales are clever hunters, traveling in pods of a dozen or more and capturing food ranging from small fish, to seals and walruses. They will occasionally attack small dolphins; but just as often, they will work with a pod of dolphins to trap a school of dish. Killer Whales are every fast swimmers for their size, capable of moving through the water at up to 34 m.p.h. (55 km/h).
Did you know that a Killer Whale weighing 12,000 pounds (5,450 kilograms) can jump more than 20 feer (6.2 meters) into the air? If we had the same proportional ability, 1 160 pound (73 kilogram) man could easily jump to the top of the Sears Tower in Chicago, a distance of over 1,450 feet (450 meters). that would sure beat waiting for the elevator!