When it comes to the better predator in the ocean, “the killer whale or the great white shark,” several factors influence their ability to hunt, attack, and survive when competing against one another.
Both marine animals are known to have teeth and use their teeth to grab their prey and tear its flesh apart.
Both species also hunt small and large fish and various shark species.
Although these marine animals share some characteristics, their anatomical features and hunting methods differ.
To give you a brief overview of each species’ distinct advantages, we’ll look at what makes them unique predators.
Great white shark advantages
When it comes to dominating the ocean, the great white has several advantages/senses that can be used to locate prey, identify potential predators and avoid being attacked by diving well below the ocean’s surface.
Some advantages include an acute sense of small, the ability to detect electrical signals, ability to sense vibrations and gills.
Acute Sense of Smell
Sharks such as the great white shark are known for their ability to smell small quantities of blood in the ocean for long distances.
The great white can detect a single drop of blood in an Olympic-sized pool.
Their sense of smell is also directional, allowing these sharks to detect the odor’s direction.
Ability to Sense Electrical Signals
These sharks can also detect electrical signals in the ocean that come from other living animals.
Since all living creatures give off an electrical signal, these marine animals are very good at identifying nearby prey.
The extent of this ability is believed to vary from one species to the next.
However, their reliance on electrical signals may/may not be a significant advantage.
Capability to Sense Vibrations
In addition to detecting electrical signals, great white sharks can detect slight vibrations or current changes in the water, alerting them to possible movements from prey.
This advantage (combined with reading electric signals) can be used to spot prey attempting to camouflage itself in the environment.
Gills and Deep Diving
There is also the fact that sharks do not need oxygen to survive, so they can stay submerged indefinitely underwater and at great depths.
It is estimated that the great white can reach depths of around 4,000 ft., much deeper than the killer whales’ diving range.
As you can see, the great white shark does have some interesting advantages over the killer whale in terms of its senses and ability to remain at inaccessible depths.
Using these various senses, great white sharks have an advantage over most other marine animals in the ocean.
They are therefore considered one of the best-known aquatic predators alive today.
Killer Whale Advantages
You could say that the killer whale is considered the apex predator within their diving range.
In fact, the killer whale has several abilities that help it locate prey, coordinate hunting strategies, and minimize its injuries.
Some abilities these marine mammals possess include echolocation, size and speed advantages, and strategic hunting.
Highly Developed Echolocation
Killer whales are known for their excellent echolocation abilities, which allow them to detect the size, direction, speed, density, and movement of various objects in the ocean.
Since echolocation relies on sound, killer whales can use this sense to hunt for food, avoid predators and navigate the ocean in areas absent of light.
Size and Speed Advantage
Regarding size and speed, killer whales can grow twice as large as a great white shark.
In addition, they can reach speeds 50% – 100% faster than the great white for short bursts.
It allows them to pursue and surprise their prey before it can escape.
Strategic Group Hunting
Killer whales are also known to hunt in strategic groups that allow them to be more effective at hunting their prey than great whites, which often hunt alone.
By hunting in groups, killer whales can surprise, isolate, and attack their prey from multiple angles.
This advantage allows killer whales to outsmart and outpower most of their prey, making them one of the most dominant predators within their habitat.
Who is the Better Predator?
The killer whale is the clear winner for several reasons regarding the battle between killer whales and great white sharks.
First, their large size and ability to outrun their prey (at least for short bursts) allows killer whales to surprise prey and flee from attacks before the great white shark can react appropriately.
Second, the killer whale’s echolocation abilities have a far greater range than the shark’s ability to detect electrical impulses giving the killer whale an advantage in early detection.
Third, killer whales hunt in large groups and use team-oriented hunting strategies. Unlike the great white, killer whales can isolate their prey from multiple angles and work together to distract their prey.
At the same time, another killer whale sneaks up from behind or below to stun and immobilize the defensive shark.
Although great white sharks are impressive, they often hunt with brute force and large sizes.
They aren’t able to form cohesive hunting parties the way killer whales are able, which leaves them exposed to group attacks and makes it harder to isolate their prey.
These disadvantages make the great whites much less effective than their killer whale opponents when successfully hunting one another and defending themselves against attacks from the opposition.
Factual Cases
While this article talks about the advantages and disadvantages of these two animals, it is essential to note that there are several real-life factual cases where killer whales have been observed hunting and killing great white sharks.
This article isn’t just about plausible assumptions, as the killer whale hunts sharks for food and game.
When hunting the great white, these cases usually consist of a group of killer whales ambushing or distracting the great white shark and ramming it or flipping it over on its back to immobilize the shark.
They may also take turns biting the shark’s fins and force it towards the surface while swimming below it to prevent the shark from escaping. By working in greater numbers and acting strategically, the killer whale can easily capture its prey while avoiding injury.
Because great whites don’t work as a team and are smaller and slower than killer whales, they are at a considerable disadvantage, leaving them wide open for attack.
Part of the reason the great white is often immortalized as the greatest predator is that they are quite effective hunters, but perhaps it has to do with the fact that they are often the sharks most known for attacking humans.
The killer whale’s notoriety, large size, and ferocious behavior make them one of the most popular predators in the ocean.
In addition to hunting sharks such as the great white killer whales have also been observed attacking other species of shark such as the mako shark and tiger shark.
Shortcomings
Although the killer whale is an apex predator, it does have one downfall that may prevent it from completely dominating the ocean.
That has to do with its limited diving scope and requirement for air, which prevents it from hunting deep-diving sharks and ocean animals.
Numerous shark species inhabit depths well below the killer whales’ grasp.
As stated earlier, the great white can reach depths of around 4,000 ft., several times the depth the killer whale can swim.