Killer Whale Lifecycle and Diet - Orca Lifespan and Food

The killer whale is a relatively long lived animal, due in part to its large size and its place as a top-of-the-foodchain predator. Throughout the course of its life, a killer whale will undergo many changes as it matures into an adult. As a killer whale grows, it's diet may change. As such, the orca has a diverse diet and is willing to eat just about anything in the sea, although different types of killer whales will eat different foods.

The lifecycle of a killer whale is similar to that of other mammals. When it is born, it weighs only a couple hundred pounds, but it will quickly balloon to several tons after a couple years. Orcas do not sexually mature until they are about fifteen years old, and will only reproduce every couple years. This is in part due to the long gestation period, which can take up to a year and a half. The lifespan of killer whales is somewhere between forty and eighty years, depending on gender. Males live significantly shorter lives than females.

The two main types of killer whale consume different types of foods. The transient orca will focus on eating marine mammals, meaning it is more likely to eat seals and other dolphins. On semi-rare occasions, transient orcas may attack whales, although they usually go for the sick and weak. If in a large pod, the orcas might attack healthy whales, but this is always dangerous as they are several times smaller.

Residential orcas eat more fish than transient orcas, and will rarely consume marine mammals. This might be because they only stay in one spot, and avoid eating mammals since their food population will deplete more quickly. Residential orcas also enjoy eating squid and, on occasion, sharks. That said, many killer whales seem to attack sharks for revenge rather than food.

It's worth noting that humans are not seen as food for killer whales, and there are no confirmed attacks on humans by them. Most orcas seem to be just curious of humans, and are generally friendly. That said, it is not advisable to swim with them as they are large and wild animals - anything can happen.

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