Killer whales live about as long as humans, reproducing over a similar age span. Males mature also at age 14 and live to about 60 years. These whales are more aggressive and can be identified by their smaller, more pointed dorsal fins with a slight bulge on the leading edge.
Transients sem to ignore fish but feed on seals, sea lions, porpoises and other sea mammals.
Their dorsal fins are crescent shaped with rounded tips. These subspecies thrive independently of each other, despite their overlapping ranges. The society of resident killer whales is as rich and complex as that of humans, with family bonds that persist throughout their lifetimes. Killer whales live in groups that are organized along matrilineal lines, the basic social unit of the whales. Many of these groups are families that contain up to four generations of whales, consisting of three to nine individuals.