Orca with offspring by Kai Müller

About "Orca with offspring"

by Kai Müller

About the artwork

The orca is one of the best-known whales of all and is one of the most agile predators in the animal kingdom.

Characteristics
Body length: females: 5 - 8 m, males: 6 - 10 m
Weight: 4-7 t
Life expectancy: 25 - 60 years (males) 40 - 90 years (females)
Distribution: worldwide
Habitat: oceans
Species population: insufficient data
systematics
Class: Mammals
Order: whales
Suborder: toothed whales
Family: Dolphins
Genus: Orcinus
Species: Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)
appearance of the killer whale

The killer whale belongs to the toothed whales and is the largest representative of the dolphin family. Males can grow up to 10 meters long and weigh 6.6 tons. Females are significantly smaller and lighter.

The killer whale owes its name to its large dorsal fin (fin). It is slightly curved backwards in females, while it is straight or pointed forward in males. On average, it is about 60 centimeters long, but in some males it can grow up to 1.8 meters.

The pectoral fins of the orca can be up to two meters long and are very rounded. The caudal fin is horizontal and slightly forked. The killer whale's mighty head tapers to a point at the snout.

The body is mostly black, the belly, throat and underside of the caudal fin are bright white. There is also a white spot above each killer whale's eyes.

reproduction and development

The mating season of killer whales varies by region. In the North Atlantic, the animals mate between November and January, in the North Pacific between May and June.

Female orcas typically have between five and six calves in their lifetime, roughly between the ages of 12 and 40. They usually become sexually mature at around eight years of age, males at 13.

After a gestation period of 12 to 18 months, female killer whales give birth to one young. The young animal is already fully developed at birth. It weighs around 170 kilograms and is a good two meters long. The mother nurses her offspring for about a year. The bond between calf and mother is very close. The young animals learn from the adult orcas, for example how to hunt. This is how special skills and strategies are passed on from generation to generation.

Mortality is very high in young killer whales. Adult orcas, on the other hand, have no predators and therefore have a low mortality rate.

lifestyle and behavior

All killer whales are very sociable and social. They live together in groups called schools or pods. Such a group can consist of up