| Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) |
| Synonyms: Delphinus orca, Delphinus gladiator, Orcinus glacialis, Orcinus nanus, Orca gladiator, Orca |
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Orcinus orca occurs throughout the world’s oceans, but is more common in coastal areas in higher latitudes. This species encompasses several forms or subspecies with morphological, ecological, behavioral, and genetic differences. Coastal resident and transient, and offshore populations have been recognized. The Killer Whale has a heavy and robust body, black or gray dorsally, with white chest and sides, a white patch above and behind the eye, and a grey patch across the back. It has a long dorsal fin and large and rounded flippers. This is the largest member of the Delphinidae; males are 6-8 m long, weighing over 6,000 kg; females are smaller, 5-7 m and 3,000-4,000 kg respectively. Dorsal fins in males (up 1.8 m) are twice as long as in the females. Killer Whales live in small family groups, but offshore populations sometimes congregate in larger pods of 20-75. O. orca hunts a variety of fish (e.g., herring, salmon, sharks, rays, etc.), marine mammals (other dolphins, baleen whales, seals and sea lions), penguins and other sea birds, and cephalopods. Some resident populations feed almost inclusively on fish, whereas the transients prey on marine mammals. This species numbers at least 50,000 individuals globally, but some populations are considered threatened or endangered due to prey depletion, marine pollution, excessive disturbance (including noise), and conflicts with human fisheries.
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