Page 73 - World of Animals - Book of Sharks & Ocean Predators

Killer whales
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Jaws was wrong: the great white shark isn’t the deadliest kingdom. They travel together in matrilineal groups
marine monster – it’s the killer whale. No animal dares consisting of a mother and her offspring and since
to prey on these 9.8-metre (32-foot) beauties, qualifying females can live up to the grand old age of 90, there can
them as the apex predators of the ocean, just as humans be multiple generations in one group.
are the apex predator of the land. It’s human intelligence While female offspring may go their separate ways
that keeps us at the top of the food chain, and killer and start their own matrilineal lines when they hit sexual
whales – or orcas, as they’re also known – have incredible maturity (between 10 and 15 years), the male killer whales
brain power to match their superior brawn. commonly remain with their mothers their entire lives.
In fact, they have the second largest brain of any marine That’s not to say they don’t enjoy a healthy social life,
mammal (after the sperm whale), but size isn’t all that though. Closely related matrilines (up to four matriarchs
matters. Intelligence is measured by a number of different and their offspring) form what are known as pods, which
BELOW Orca
factors, with scientists analysing social behaviour, self- sometimes meet up with other pods of orcas. whales surface
awareness and communication when forging lists of the The final level of the social structure is called a in Lynn Canal

cleverest creatures on Earth. community. This is created when a group of clans in an with the
Alaskan Chilkat

Killer whales tick all these boxes, boasting one of area meet up and likely find themselves a mate, but the mountains seen
the most complex social structures in the entire animal males will always return to their mother’s side. in the distance

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