Why Orcas Are Called Killer Whales
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Orcas are some of the largest and most fascinating marine creatures. They're immediately recognizable by their distinctive black-and-white coloring. But did you know these cute-looking animals are apex predators of the ocean? In fact, their other name is killer whale. In this video, we will be exploring more about orcas and why they are called killer whales. Stay tuned, as some of the facts might surprise you!
The oceans are full of so many species that its mind-blowing. It is also home to perhaps the fiercest apex predator on Earth, Orcas, aka, the killer whales. It's a killing machine with no natural predators that feeds on most anything that comes across its path, including fish, sea birds, seals, and even whales! Today, orcas are recognized as among the most widely distributed mammals on the planet, occupying every ocean. They are incredibly social, diverse, and ferocious marine predators with a diet ranging from penguins to great white sharks.
What if I told you orcas aren't really whales? They are actually dolphins! Yes, you heard that right. Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family. Males are bigger than females, but they vary in size and weight, depending on the type of orca. According to the website SeaWorld, the largest orca ever recorded was a staggering 32 feet (9.8 meters) long and weighed 22,000 lbs. (10,000 kilograms). That's longer and heavier than most motorhomes. Orcas are known for their long dorsal fin and black-and-white coloring. The black-and-white coloring helps to camouflage them by obscuring their outline in the water. Just behind the dorsal fin is a patch of gray called a "saddle" — because it looks like a riding saddle. If you analyze its body closely, an orca's body is cylindrical and tapers at each end to form a hydrodynamic shape. This shape, along with the orca's large size and strength, makes it among the fastest marine mammals, able to reach speeds in excess of 30 knots (about 34 mph, or 56 km/h). Orcas have massive teeth, which can grow up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) long! They have evolved to swim up to 40 miles a day, foraging for food and exercising. They dive 100 to 500 feet, several times a day, every day. Whether they're born in the wild or in captivity, all orcas born have the same innate drive to swim far and dive deep.
There are plenty of depictions of people-friendly orcas, such as the movie "Free Willy" and SeaWorld's Shamu. There are also water parks that have these beautiful creatures playing in, giving the audience a show. So, what did the orca do to get this frightening name, killer whale? If you've ever seen the 1970s movie "Orca, the Killer Whale" starring Richard Harris and Bo Derek, you may already have an idea. Similar to what "Jaws" did for sharks, this thriller poised orca as vindictive, bloodthirsty savages. Dead-set on hunting down the humans responsible for the death of his mate, an angry orca gobbles up each person, one by one. According to the movie, next to humans, orcas are the only animals that kill for revenge. But that's just all in the movie. Are Orcas that vicious to be called "killers"?
Well, yes. As the top ocean predator, they kill other animals to make a living, although diets vary among different populations around the world. To put the word "killer" into more context, remember that until about 55 years ago, killer whales were widely viewed by non-Indigenous societies as the embodiment of evil, ready to destroy boats and devour mariners at every opportunity. "A killer whale cannot be properly depicted or described except as an enormous mass of flesh armed with savage teeth," Roman scholar Pliny the Elder famously wrote in the first century, AD.
We know what you're thinking. That was a long time ago. Surely, we have become more enlightened in modern times? Well, no really. As late as 1973, US Navy diving manuals described the killer whale as "extremely ferocious," warning that "they will attack human beings at every opportunity." Long ago, sailors referred to these massive creatures as "whale killers." That made more sense because orcas are actually dolphins, not whales. Unfortunately, that nickname changed to killer whale, and now everyone thinks that Orcas are some kind of whale species.
Killer whales' reputation as fierce hunters come in part because they frequently target other marine animals, regardless of size. Orcas commonly eat whatever's