Orcas, Killer Whales, Science Report, Animal Report, 3rd grade Science

2. This presentation will be about Orcas,
also known as killer whales. Scientists classify
Orcas as dolphins not whales. This marine
mammal’s scientific name is Orcinus Orca.
In this power point you will learn about
there anatomy, diet, habitat, range, map
of range, family life, life cycle, migration,
average body size and weight and you will
learn a lot of interesting facts.

4. Whales eat seals, 30 species of fish,
96% of their fish diet is salmon, sharks
(particularly makos, threshers and
smooth hammerheads), sea birds, sea
lions, squid, penguins, porpoises, sea
turtles.

5. Killer Whales are found in most
oceans and seas. The best places to see
Killer Whales are in the deep inshore
waters, encloused bays or between
islands were particular groups have
been seen, visited or studied regularly.
North America, northern Norway, Japan,
and Ice-land, as well as waters near
Antarctica are great places to study
them.

6. Orcas are found throughout the
world’s oceans.

7. Day –to-day, killer whales behavior
generally consists of foraging, traveling,
resting and socializing. Normally killer
whales cruise slowly in small “family” groups
of up to a dozen. They dive together,
together, disappearing for less than a
minute.

8. When a baby whale (called a calf) is born it emerges it
tail first from its mother’s body. Its mother pushes up the calf
to the surface. There it takes its first breath. Female killer
whales mature at around age 15. They have periods of
polyestrous cycling with noncycling periods of between 3
and 16 months.
calf
juvenile
adult

9. Killer whales that are found off the
shores of California migrate between
Canada and South America.

10. Males can measure 6 to 8 meters (20 to 60
ft.) long and weight in excess of 6 tons
Females are smaller from 5 to 7 meters (16
to 23 ft.) and weighing over 3 to 4 tons.
A newborn Orca is longer, than a man is
tall, and an adult male is nearly as long
as a school bus up to 32 feet (6 to 8
meters) long.

11. Orcas are sometimes called the
wolves of the sea because they hunt in
groups like wolf packs. Everyone calls
them whales, but killer whales are no
more than very big dolphins, with a short,
rounded head and compact, chunky
body.

12. The Orca has a powerful, agile baby
that helps make it one of the most
effective of all predators. Baby Orcas
are black and white like their mother.
Orcas swim up to 30 miles (48 km) per
hour.