"Killer Whales: An Overview" An overview of the habitation, characteristics and habits of killer whales.

Killer whales inhabit the cooler waters of both the western and northern hemispheres, where sea life is most abundant. Killer whales are mainly black or deep brown in color, having large white patches on their lower jaw, belly, and above their eyes, and a lighter off-white saddle patch just under and behind their dorsal fins. They are quite large mammals, with females growing to up to 8.5 m (27.5 ft) long, and males to up to 9.8 m (31.9 …

…and affection to people. Killer whales are the largest member of the family Delphinidae; they are classified as Orcinus Orca Classification Table Kingdom: Animal Phylum: Chordate Subphylum: Vertebrate Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Sub-order: Odonceti: Toothed Whales Family: Delphinidae: Dolphins and Porpoises Sub-family: Orcinae Genus: Orcinus Species: Orca Sources 1. "Orcas: Killer Beauties..." www.geocities.com Gonzales, Steven. 1998 2. "Killer Whales" Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2001. 1993-2000 Microsoft Corporation 3. "Whales and their habits" National Geographic. August 1998 Chadwick, Douglas Pg 178- 196 _____