Killer Whales Have you ever heard of the killer whale? Did you know that killer whales live in oceans all over the world? They are found mostly in the Arctic and Antarctic oceans, where the water is cold. Killer whales can also be spotted on both shores of the United States. Killer whales have been spotted in warmer waters such as the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico. This just goes to show how adaptable the killer whale can be. How do killer whales differ from other whales? One way is in their coloring. A killer whale is striking in its coloring of black and white. This makes it easy to spot. Killer whales have a sleek body form. They are smaller when compared to most whales. Killer whales are typically 19–22 feet long and can weigh anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 pounds. Killer whales get their name for a reason. They are the top predators in the ocean. Killer whales will eat almost any kind of sea animal including sea lions, fish, squid, seals, walruses, birds, sea turtles, penguins, and otters. It’s been recorded that even a moose has been found in the stomach of a killer whale. Killer whales are very agile and can move quickly through the water. In fact, they are the fastest swimming marine mammals. This speed and agility makes it easy for the killer whale to hunt. Often times, killer whales will hunt in groups. This improves their chances of catching prey. 1. What is this passage mainly about? a. how the killer whale eats b. predators of the killer whale c. the different types of whales d. general facts about the killer whale 2. In the last paragraph, what does the word recorded mean? a. tape recorded b. documented c. measured d. opened 3. To improve their chances of catching prey, killer whales often . . . a. hunt animals that can’t swim. b. hunt tiny animals. c. hunt in groups. d. attack at sunset. 4. Based on information in the passage, how did the killer whale get its name? a. by hunting in groups b. by being black and white c. by being smaller than most whales d. by being the top predator of the ocean