Family. The killer whale is the largest in its family of delphinid. Bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, and Pacific white-sided dolphins are included in this group as well. The scientific name for this family is Delphinidae.

Fossil Record. Modern forms of both odontocetes and mysticetes can be seen in the fossil record of five to seven million years ago. Scientists believe that early whales arose about fifty-five to sixty-five million years ago from, now extinct, ancient land mammals that happened to venture back into the sea.

Distribution. Killer whales can be found in all oceans of the world. They are the most numerous in the Arctic Ocean and the Antarctic. However, their distribution is limi

Food intake. Adult killer whales eat approximately 3% to 4% of their body weight in food per day and fully weaned calves can eat up to 10% of their body weight per day.

Female killer whales average about seventeen to twenty-four feet and usually weigh between 3,000 and 8,000 pounds. The largest female recorded was twenty-eight feet and weight about 15,000 pounds.

The dorsal fin, like the flukes, is made of dense, fibrous connective tissue with no bones. It acts as a keel, stabilizing a killer whale as it swims. The arteries in this fin help to maintain body temperature. In males, the dorsal fin is tall and triangular and in females it may by slightly curved back. It both males and females, the dorsal fin may lean to the right or left, being classified as irregularly shaped.

Most sound reception, or hearing, probably takes places through the lower jaw. A killer whale may also receive sound through soft tissue and bone surrounding the ear.

The eyes of a killer whale are similar to the eyes of a cow: big, on each side of the head, and just behind and above the mouth.

Social Behavior. Living in a pod creates a strong social bond between the individuals. Behavioral studies show that certain animals like associating with one another than they do with others.

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