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orcas (orca) are huge aquatic mammals and members of the dolphin family. Even though these creatures resemble other gentle giants in the sea, the killer whale lives up to its name. They are apex predators that live in every ocean around the world. Since they’re at the top of the food chain, it’s only fair to ask, what do killer whales eat?
We take a closer look at the foods that killer whales prefer, how they hunt, and how they deal with captivity and competition.
What foods do killer whales eat?
Orcas eat fish, marine mammals, and cephalopods. The killer whale is a carnivore, so it only eats the flesh of other creatures. Fortunately, the ocean has an abundance of prey. Since the killer whale is considered a apex predator, many creatures in the ocean are on the killer whale’s menu.
The foods that killer whales eat include:
It is important to note that killer whales live in a huge range around the world and different types of killer whales exist. Some of them may live mainly on seals, while others, such as killer whales, mainly eat fish.
Still, killer whales are not very picky when it comes to their food. They will feed on a lot of food to get the food they need, and they need a lot of it!
How much do killer whales eat?
Killer whales are very large mammals which can weigh between 6,600 and 8,800 pounds on average. Larger orcas can weigh up to 12,000 pounds, with the largest weighing over 20,000 pounds.
They routinely grow to 20 feet in length and taller orcas can reach 32 feet in length. These mammals require an enormous amount of energy to move through the ocean waters.
On average, an orca eats between 100 and 300 pounds of food a day. That amount can drop under certain circumstances, such as when orcas are kept in captivity. They then need less energy to forage, so their food requirement is not as high.
How do killer whales hunt for food?
The killer whale’s prey has to worry about more than just their size and speed, being able to reach bursts of 35 mph. Orcas are highly intelligent creatures that hunt in very creative ways and even ask for help.
While the large size of whales might lead one to believe that they should only hunt to find food, that is not the case with orcas. Orcas often hunt like a pod. Studies have shown that some orcas hunt in pods with only 7 members, while other giant pods will reach the size of 40 orcas.
The size of the pod allows them to track down food, surround them, and then go in for the kill. AN common example of killer whales that use teamwork to make sure they get a meal is when they come across schools of fish. The orcas will stalk the school from many directions, cutting off their escape routes.
Finally, the fish are effectively grouped and led to the surface of the water. Once packed tightly together, the whales will pound them with their huge tails, stunning the fish or killing it outright. Then the whales pick them up, while others continue to herd the fish.
Another interesting aspect of killer whales’ hunting habits is that they are smart enough to set traps for other creatures. Researchers have witnessed orcas spewing fish near the water’s surface, waiting for birds to be seduced by the scent, then eating both.
Needless to say, when you put size, strength, speed, and cleverness together, you get an incredibly capable fighter.
What do killer whales eat in captivity?
In captivity, killer whales don’t have to hunt for their food, it’s delivered to them. In some cases, orcas are given food for completing certain tricks. Their diet is very different in captivity than in the ocean and is aimed at optimizing their health and longevity. It’s also not really possible to find the varied meals that orcas have in the wild.
Orcas kept in captivity usually eat about 1% to 3.5% of their body weight in the following foods:
- salmon
- Mackerel
- Calamari
- Herring
- capelin
These foods are similar to what some killer whales would eat in the wild. In addition, each meal is tested for its nutritional value in relation to the whale’s needs.
What Competes With Orcas For Food?
The killer whale may be at the top of the food chain, but it’s not the only carnivore swimming in the waters with a hunger to satisfy. The overlap in food supply occurs when other carnivores follow the same diet or occupy the same area in large numbers.
Here is a list of the most common killer whale food competitors:
This list should not be used to insinuate that one of the creatures will kill an orca and take its food. There’s just an overlap between their favorite meals. For example, sea lions and seals can feast on the salmon that killer whales need to survive, but they will either flee or be eaten if a pack of hungry killer whales shows up.
Orcas are top-level predators that use their intelligence and size to hunt a variety of creatures. Unfortunately, they don’t do well as a species. Some species of killer whales are considered endangered by people who have hunted them in the past, pollution and the loss of their favorite foods.
In the future, some of those smaller types may disappear completely, but more studies are needed to explore and overcome the obstacles to their survival.
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