There are two major groups of whales. The first group is mysticeti (baleen whales), and the other isodontoceti (toothed whales). In the group odontoceti, there is a family of whales called delphinidae (dolphins and small toothed whales). In this report, I will focus on a species of whale that comes from this family, and that species is the killer whale, or also known as orcinus orca, or just orca. The largest and most striking of the dolphin family, the killer whale is one of the most fearsome predators of the deep.

Killer whales are basically the same shape as fish, but they differ in many ways. One of the most obvious differences is the tail fin. Fish have vertical tail fins, while whales have horizontal tail fins. One of the most distinctive features of orcas is the tall, wide dorsal fin located on its back. In females, the dorsal fin can grow to about 2 feet high. It is falcate (hooked or curved). In males, the dorsal fin is triangular in shape and can grow up t

Throughout the ages, whales have lost some of the characteristics of mammals. Mammals have hair covering their bodies. Whales have only a few stiff hairs on their heads. Mammals have four legs. A whale has no hind legs. The only traces that they remain are two tiny hipbones. The front legs have developed into flippers, which are used for steering or keeping its balance. Although killer whales share the same characteristics as mammals, they also have special features that allow them to live in the water.

An interesting aspect of whales is that they utilize most of the five senses that humans use. The five senses are hearing, seeing, smelling, touching, and talking. Killer whales have no sense of smell and have poor eyesight. They have well-developed senses of touch and hearing. “Their keen hearing provides them with information about their surroundings.” (International Experts, Encyclopedia survey, 1988) They can hear a wide range of sounds, including low-and high-pitched sounds that are beyond the range of human hearing. They can also tell from what direction a sound is coming from. Killer whales produce sounds within the nasal sac system, a series of air-filled pouches around the blowhole. They locate underwater objects by listening for echoes produced when the objects reflect the sounds. They determine the distance and the direction of an object through the echoes. This is called echolocation.

When researching any type of animal, it is also worth knowing the life span of the animal being researched. Knowing the life span of killer whales is useful information that a researcher can later use. Knowing the life span of the killer whale helps the researcher understand how the killer whale lives and how long it lives. The life span of killer whales is 50+ years for the males and 80+ years for the females.

Overall, there are a plethora of characteristics and attributes that make killer whales unique. Whether it is the killer instinct, life span, or method of reproduction, it is easy to see that killer whales are very special creatures. Though there are many different kinds of whales, I chose to write about one specific species of whale: the killer whale or orcinus orca. Whales are thought to be along the lines of gentle of nonviolent. Killer whales, however, are neither. It is these characteristics of the killer whale that many people find intriguing. Whales, in general, are very unique creatures. The killer whale is unique in its own way, and possesses certain characteristics that most whales do not. It is the killer instinct found in killer whales that makes them intriguing and distinguishes them from other species of whale.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1815
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)