Male Whales
- Male killer whales measure 20-26 feet (6-8 meters) long, and weigh as much as 22,000 pounds (10,000 kilograms).
- Males sexually mature at the age of 15 but do not typically reproduce until age 21. Wild males live to around 29 years on average, with a maximum of 50–60 years.
Female Whales
- Females are slightly smaller, at 16-23 feet (5-7 m) in length and an average weight of 16,500 pounds (7,500 kg).
- Female killer whales mature at around age 15. Mothers calve, with usually a single offspring, about once every 5 years after a 17-month pregnancy. In resident pods, birth occurs at any time of year, although winter is the most popular.
- Females breed until age 40, meaning that on average they raise five offspring. The lifespan of wild females averages 50 years, with a maximum of 80–90 years.
The main difference between a male a female killer whale (also known as orca) is the dorsal fins. Males usually have a tall straight dorsal fin which can reach up to 6ft in length. Female dorsals are usually a lot smaller and more curved.
Communication/echolocation
- Killer whales produce whistles, echolocation clicks, pulsed calls, low-frequency pops, and jaw claps.
- Killer whales also produce click and sounds that resemble moans, trills, grunts, squeaks, whistles, creaking doors. They make these sounds at any time at various depths, varying in wavelength and volume, and even pattern.
They make these sounds by moving air between nasal sacs in the blowhole region. Complex tissue in a toothed whales nasal region, called the dorsal bursa, is the site of sound production. his complex includes "phonic lips"-structures that project into the nasal passage.
During vocalizations, killer whales actually release air from the blowhole, but these bubble trials and clouds are a visual display. Releasing air isn't required for the sound production, a killer whale can produce sound from at least two seperaet sources in its complex nasal passage.