Orcas are a beautiful species that have been studied in and out of captivity, yet still, there is a lot we don’t know.

Here are 10 amazing facts about the killer whale!

SUBSCRIBE for the latest videos: https://goo.gl/7xzjzR
Don't forget to CHECK OUT our latest upload: https://goo.gl/LUB8Xw


They’re Not Even Whales
The image of the “killer whale” and their elusive reputation for consuming colossal sized prey, may be debunked when the world learns these majestic mammals aren’t even whales at all. Though orcas are killer in the sense that they’re cool, the name derives from a diet consisting of whales; hence, killer of whales.

The Deets
The little guy will typically be 6 to 9 feet long, while their adult counterparts can reach 23-32 feet. To contradict their offspring, an adult male weighs up to six tons— almost the size of a large bus. Due to their immense size and power, these fierce swimmers have been recorded at speeds of up to 33 miles per hour. The average life of a male orca is 29 years. Females have significantly longer lives, despite the fact that they endure menopause, and research suggests that their longevity is to help care for the other young members of the pod. In the wild female orcas live an average of 50 years, though much older accounts claim 80 years or more.

The Hunt Is On
Extremely swift animals, the speed of a dolphin makes it a much sought-after catch, so in the midst of a high-speed chase an orca will ram and stun its prey before going in for the kill. Orcas are unable to take their victim out with a fatal bite, as opening their mouth causes a painful drag along their lower jaw. So, a game of bumper cars ensues, and the orca always wins.

They Get Around
The orca species ranges from the Arctic to the Antarctic and move freely everywhere from the ice-capped waters of the north and south to the rhythmical movement of warmer waters along the equator. Orcas can be found around the tropical Hawaiian Islands stretching to the Galapagos and the Gulf of California. They come in second to humans as far as global distribution; yet, orcas are not limited to our ocean’s alone— some have been spotted in freshwater rivers such as the Rhine, Thames and Elbe rivers. In one instance a solo orca was seen 100 miles up the Columbian river, hunting for fish.

They Stick Together
When it comes to the discrepancy of pods versus clans, they are solely distinct due to language. A single clan consists of several pods of family groups. While each pod speaks the same language, they each have their own dialect and accent.

What’s in A Name?
Theory suggests that past whalers became familiar with the intended prey and denoted the beasts as “killers of whales”; over time, the name became corrupted by the kind of people who love all things grim and grisly. To add, the Latin name for orca is Orcinus orca, which translates to “Of the kingdom of the dead.” The interpretation correlates the Roman God of the underworld, Orcus, with the fierce hunting reputation of the ominous killer.

Mammals Have Menopause Too
Despite the fetus facility giving out, these three entities continue to live on for decades although their prenatal abilities do not— why is this? Since some may argue reproduction is the basis for evolution, why would a species stop reproducing mid-life? Science has proposed a fascinating explanation known as the grandmother hypothesis. An idea founded in 1966, the theory proposes that older females forgo the option to bear more in order to support the ones they have.

Orcas Evolve as Humans Do
A special team set out to compare the genomes of two separate cultures of orcas in the Pacific Ocean, as well as three cultures in the Antarctic Ocean. To the surprise of the group, the genomes fell into five different groups which perfectly coincided with the cultural distinctions in each. Since only humans are known to evolve based on their culture, this can lend a major breakthrough for the scientific world.

The Gang Gets Invincible
Remarkably, orcas don’t have any predators. They are at the very top of the food chain and are therefore considered apex predators. Since orcas are among some of the largest and most powerful creatures in the deep blue, no other animal is able to challenge them— not even the mammoth-sized blue whale, and not even the rapacious great white shark.

Deadly by Association
A killer whale called Tilly, one famous “Shamu” impersonator for over 25 years at SeaWorld, killed three different people on separate occasions. There is much controversy as to why this happened, circulating back to heartbreaking living conditions, horrible treatment, and health— as poor captivity and the deterioration of one’s wellbeing could cause any animal to snap. The renowned documentary Blackfish highlights the infamous Tilly, as the film uncovers problems with the sea-park industry, human’s treatment of nature, and the high intelligence of these remarkable animals.