Creature Feature #540: Orca

The Orca is a largest dolphin, and one of the most intelligent creatures in the ocean. She is highly sociable, forming complex social groups, comprised of females and their female descendents. These matrilines combine with other matrilines to form pods. Orca hunt co-operatively, hounding and drowning larger cetaceans or herding and ambushing. They are known to hunt seals along the coast by beaching themselves temporarily before wriggling back out to sea. A captive whale at Marine World would reguigitate fish on the surface of the water, then ambush and eat the birds that descended to devour it. Orca also learn from observation, and teach techniques to their calves. She can live up to 90 years, breeding from 15 years of age, up to 40 and giving birth every 5 years or so. They are one of the few mammals (humans being another) to undergo menopause and live for years after cessation of breeding.