Orcas Are the Apex Predators That Even Great White Sharks Fear

Orcas look like water pandas, but live up to the nickname “killer whale.” This name originates from sailors who witnessed orcas preying on whales that were far larger than themselves. These sailors were likely among the first to encounter their aggressive, intelligent, and predatory nature up close. Don’t let their cute faces and blubbery bodies fool you–Orcas are the apex predators of the deep. In honor of World Orca Day on July 14th, we’re paying homage to the rulers of the ocean.

Brute Strength and Bite Force

Great whites are often placed at the top of the ocean food chain. In reality, orcas can easily outperform sharks. They’re some of the most underestimated hunters in the water, despite their ability to kill prey. It’s also been proven that orcas are the only known predators of great white sharks. Orcas have been witnessed hunting and killing great whites off the coast of South Africa, an unusual behavior that’s rarely seen. Despite its abnormality, it’s a testament to how unbelievably strong and fearless these animals can be.

Orcas are titans compared to a great white shark. They weigh three times as much and are twice the length, making them an intimidating foe. They have a layer of blubber for insulation, but plenty of muscle can be found underneath that. An orca is built for speed and hitting power with a complex muscle system designed for swimming. They also have muscles that control their pectoral fins and a muscle called the caudal peduncle, allowing them to make swift side-to-side movements. In addition to being built like a tank, the estimated bite force of an orca is a whopping 19,000 PSI. By comparison, this is more than six times the bite force of a great white, which has a bite force of 4,000 PSI. Bite force alone makes the orca one of the strongest animals in the world.

Speed Is On Their Side

The only thing scarier than a 7,000-pound fish coming toward you is knowing the speed at which it’s swimming. Orcas can reach speeds of nearly 34 miles per hour. That’s the average speed zone for a car in a residential area. In the water, this results in a quick attack. The orca has speed and heft on its side, and few prey can outrun both of them. They can cover a distance of 99 miles per day, giving them the added advantage of long-distance hunting and foraging. Their smooth, oval-shaped body also helps them cut through the water with minimal resistance. At the end of their bodies, strong tails thrust them forward, acting in the same way a propeller would on a boat.

The average cruising speed of an orca is 3-5 miles per hour. They choose their speed based on several factors, including age, environment, and whether they’re actively hunting. The speed of an orca isn’t only used for attacking prey, however. In Antarctica, orcas demonstrate a rarely-seen behavior known as wave-washing. When prey, such as a seal, is sitting safely atop an ice floe, orcas use their incredible speed to create waves. This synchronized move sends massive waves cascading over the top of the ice, forcing the seal into the water. The orca’s ability to remain submerged for long periods makes this a war of attrition for their prey. It’s a tremendous display of strength, but also a testament to the unique brains that orcas possess.

Human-Like Intelligence

The brain of an orca is an incredible thing, and sets it apart from most other marine mammals. Instead of having a smooth brain, orcas have one that’s wrinkly with many ridges. This resembles the same brain that humans have, implying a high level of intelligence. The grooves and crevices indicate nerve endings, which are used to signal thoughts and emotions to other parts of the brain. An orca’s brain has more wrinkles than a human‘s. Experts have determined that this shortens the time it takes to send a message, meaning an orca’s response time could be even shorter than our own.

With a brain that’s five times the size of a human’s, there’s plenty more going on in there than just reactions. Orcas can understand empathy, which means they know social connections and hierarchy. It has also been proven that they’re self-aware, giving them an ability that most ocean animals lack. This combination of thought processes is part of their paralimbic system. It enables them to detect emotions and interpret information with a higher level of thought. This is also what makes them incredibly skilled at hunting, forming packs, and survival.

True Pack Mentality

Orca pods range drastically, with some as few as five orcas or as many as 30. Larger pods might have up to 100 orcas, depending on the region and population. The pods are led by non-reproductive females, who are usually the elders of the group. Since calves remain with their mothers for two years, pods are often relatively large with plenty of young orcas. If orcas could communicate with humans, one of their mottos would be “strength in numbers.”

Large pods not only increase the safety of each individual orca, but they also encourage pack hunting. We already know that orcas are extremely intelligent mammals. In a pack, this intelligence is tenfold combined with the extraordinary strength of 40 orcas versus one. They attack prey as a group, which allows them to take down animals up to twice their size. These calculated moves prevent any one orca from becoming exhausted, and utilize the power of a group. One seal is no match for several orcas, and it’s rare that any animal escapes a pod without injury.

Echolocation Is Their Superpower

Just when you thought orcas couldn’t be any more skilled as an apex predator, echolocation enters the chat. This species excels in the ability to sense prey from up to 500 feet away, even in dark or murky water. They use echolocation to detect live prey, and their speed and muscular bodies take care of the rest. This comes in especially handy for species like the Southern Resident killer whale, which uses echolocation regularly to hunt Chinook salmon.

This incredible ability not only locates the fish, but delivers additional information back to the orca. It’s able to tell the difference between fish species by the size of its bladder. As sound clicks bounce off the fish and return to the orca, each one has a unique sound depending on the species. Southern Resident killer whales use this ability to dominate Pacific waters, discerning between more and less desirable prey. This also shows the orca’s ability to learn distinct hunting techniques. It remembers and recognizes which fish have larger bladders, and can then associate the type of fish with this returning click.

They Deserve Respect

Orcas might dominate the ocean food chain, but this is also why they deserve respect and admiration. Their unparalleled ability to hunt a variety of species is crucial to the balance of the ecosystem. They have few predators, but hold the responsibility of keeping other species’ numbers in check. Without them, the ocean would be overpopulated and woefully out of balance. This natural system of checks and balances also protects the environment. With each species having a place in the food chain, there’s a lesser chance of food and habitats dwindling.

Outside of their role in the food chain, orcas have been revered for centuries. They have been respected in many indigenous cultures, and continue to be symbolic for many Pacific communities. According to the George Strait Alliance, orcas are even known as the “guardians of the sea.” These beautiful, majestic hunters should be respected rather than feared. While they demonstrate great power in the ocean, they’re also one of the world’s most intelligent and empathetic mammals.