• Size:
  Although small compared to some whales, killer whales are the largest predators of mammals known.  Male killer whales, or bulls, average 5.8 to 6.7 m (19-22 ft.) and usually weigh between 3,628 and 5,442 kg (8,000-12,000 lb.). Females, or cows, average 4.9 to 5.8 m (16-19 ft.) and usually weigh between 1,361 and 3,628 kg (3,000-8,000 lb.). Individual sizes vary significantly between geographical areas.  Length estimates for more than 2,000 killer whales taken by North Atlantic whaling operations show male North Atlantic killer whales average about 6.1 m (20 ft.) while females average about 5.5 m (18 ft.).

• Body Shape:
  A killer whale has a sleek, streamlined, fusiform (tapered at both ends) body shape.

• Coloration:
  The dorsal surface and pectoral flippers are black, except for the gray saddle area located just behind the dorsal fin.  The ventral (bottom) surface, lower jaw, and undersides of the tail flukes are mostly white.  The undersides of the tail flukes are fringed with black. A white 'eyespot' is located just above and slightly behind each eye. The markings on the flukes and saddle patch have been used as the standard method of identification of Killer whales. Their vocalizations were researched in the 1980's by John Ford. He spent many hours in the Race Rocks and the rest of the waters around Vancouver Island for his research.

Behavior:

• Sound travels well in water and orcas communicate with calls, clicks and whistles. They use 'echolocation' clicks to navigate and find food.  Orcas can leap out of the water to 'breach'. Orcas also 'spy-hop', rising vertically in the water with their heads in the air, looking around.

• Permanent mother-led family groups form extended families called 'pods'. Though mothers are the primary caregivers, everyone plays a part in caring for the young.  The social life is vital.  Each pod has its own distinct dialect.

• Orcas may live for up to 80 years or perhaps longer.  They mature physically at about 14 years.  Mating takes place between individuals from different pods.  Wild mating has never been seen by humans; lengthy and subtle courtship may occur.  A female will produce on average one calf every 4-5 years.  Gestation is 17 months and newborn calves are around 200kg and 2.5m long. A calf will suckle for most of its first year and remains with its family for life.

 Biotic-associations:

• The website http://www.cgo.wave.ca/~wolfy/orca.html offers detailed information about orca's bio-associations and hunting manners. It is based upon a comprehensive bibliography that includes several research papers and books. (Link opens in a new window).

Local Research on Killer whales:

Robin W. Baird and Hal Whitehead ,Social organization of mammal-eating killer whales: group stability and dispersal patterns
.2000,

Ford, J.K.B. 1991. Vocal traditions among resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in coastal waters of British Columbia.
Can. J. Zool. 69: 1454-1483.
Bigg, M.A., P.F. Olesiuk, G.M. Ellis, J.K.B. Ford & K.C. Balcomb III. 1990. Social organization and genealogy of resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the coastal waters of British Columbia and Washington State.
Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. (Special Issue 12): 383-405.
Ford, J.K.B. 1989. Acoustic behaviour of resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in British Columbia.
Can. J. Zool. 67: 727-745.

From John Ford's website you can hear Killer whale sounds of the Southern Resident Killer Whales.