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KILLER FACTS

MORPHOLOGY

Male killer whales can weigh as much as approximately 27 adult men.

Male killer whales can grow to a length of 8-9 m and a weight of about 9,000- 10,000 kg.

Female killer whales can grow to a length of about 7-8 m and a weight of 6,500-7,500 kg.

Newborns are usually 2- 2.4 m long and weigh about 130-180 kg.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM

Male killer whales are bigger than females.

Male dorsal fins look different than females'. The dorsal fin of a male killer whale can be as tall as the average adult man – 1.7m high! Female's fins can reach 1m in height.

Pectoral flippers of males may reach 2.5 m and are much broader than those of the females.

Tail flukes of mature males curl downwards, unlike those of the females.