What is the length of a killer whale's life cycle?

So-called “killer whales” live an average of 50 to 90 years in the wild. More accurately known as orcas, females of the species generally outlive males.

Orcas of both genders attain sexual maturity between the ages of 10 and 18 years. In their natural habitat, females give birth to one 400-pound calf every three to five years, after a gestation period of 13 to 17 months. Orcas are mammals that nurse their babies for one to two years.

While orcas can and do live in every ocean of the world, they seem to prefer cold seas. Many orcas are found in the waters of the Pacific Northwest, off the shores of Alaska and Norway and in the Antarctic region.