MARINE ANIMALS THAT BITE 



29 



Baffin Bay, and Bering Strait to beyond the Antarctic Circle in the 

 Southern Hemisphere. The killer whale is characterized by the 

 bluntly rounded snout, which merges imperceptibly with the fore- 

 head, the high black dorsal fin, the white patch just behind and 

 above the eye, and the striking contrast of the jet-black color of the 

 head and back with the snowy-white underparts. They have 10-14 

 large conical teeth on each side of the powerful jaws (Fig. 9), 

 which interlock when the mouth is closed. Killer whales hunt in 

 packs of 3-40 individuals, preying on other warm-blooded marine 

 animals. They are fast swimmers and will attack anything that 

 swims. They have been known to come up under ice floes and to 

 knock seals and people into the water. If killer whales are spotted, 

 the diver should get out of the water immediately. 



Fig. 9. Killer Whale, Grampus orca (Linnaeus). (Hon) 



