Common/Scientific Names
It's common name , recognized by many people, is killer whale (originally called "whale killer" by Spanish whalers). It's scientific name is Orcinus Orca. The Romans called it "orca," meaning "demon from hell".

Habitat
Found in all of the world's oceans, particulary in cooler temperatured waters.

Body Size and Mass
Male whales can grow up to approx. 32 feet in length and can weigh in at 10 tons. Female whales can grow up to approx. 27 feet in length and can weigh in at 7 tons. Newborn whale calves are approximately 7 feet in length and weigh in at almost 350 lbs. upon birth.

Body Appearences Noticeable black and white undermarking with tall dorsal fins reaching up to 6 feet tall in males and 3 feet in female whales (male whales have tall, long dorsal fins whereas the female whales have sickle-shaped ones; very easy to differenciate). Special saddle shape located near dorsal fin, unique to each animal. This is one way researchers indentify specific indivisuals. An average of 24 sharp, conical, slightly curved teeth occupy the orca's mouth.

Diet
Salmon, herring, birds, squid and even other mammals (such as seals, dolphins, walrus, penquins and other whales).

Society
Orcas live in pods of up to 50 whales. Within these pods are smaller units called subpods. Still, inside the subpods, are even lesser units named maternal groups. Orcas stay with their subpods for all their lives and it later becomes their hunting group.

Common Behavior
Spyhopping - This involves the orca accomplishing a tailstand and bringing its head vertically out of the water, allowing for a 360 degree view of its surroundings.

Breaching - This is where the killer whale completely leaps out of the water and lands with an emense explosion as it hits the surface.

Slapping - These are forceful slaps of the tail fluke on the water surface that occur during socializing. This behavior also called lobtailing may be used to stun or herd fish, making them easy prey.

Vocalization
Reseachers have currently indentified up to 62 seperate sounds produced underwater, which consists mainly of high pitched shrills and shrieks. Every individual has a dialect language particular to its area of origin.

Navigation
Can travel from approximately 60 to 100 miles of ocean in a day. Uses echolocation for navigation and for finding food.

Natural Enemies
None, except its own kind and (of course) man.

Further readings on whales - check out this site by Harris, Tom.
"How Whales Work." 13 July 2001. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/whale.htm>