Check out these awesome facts about killer whales NOW!



- Killer whales are actually the largest members of the
	dolphin family, so they're not really whales at all!

- They are one of the smartest animals on earth; like
	many other dolphins, you can teach them to perform
	lots of complicated tricks.

- Like other dolphins and whales, baby killer whales are
	called calves.

- An adult male can grow to over 30 feet long and weigh
	as much as 10 tons!

- An adult female is often only one-third of that size.

- Killer whales have large gray spots behind their dorsal
	fins that look white under water.

- Males have triangular dorsal fins that can be 7 feet
	tall, and the females' and calves' dorsal fins are
	hook-shaped, like those of other dolphins.

- Killer whales don't usually attack or eat large animals.
	Most of the time they pursue and devour schools of 
	fish or squid.

- To catch their prey, a pod of killer whales will pursue
	the victim at high speeds and surround it on all sides
	so there is no way for the prey to escape.  Whenever
	possible, they will also corner it against an under-
	water cliff side.

- Although killer whales sometimes attack and eat penguins,
	seals, sharks, and even other dolphins and whales,
	they have never been known to attack people.

- In fact, they're very friendly around humans, and they
	are usually fun and exciting to be with.

- Killer whales stay with their family members during
	their entire lives.

- Some killer whales can live to be eighty years old!