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The orca (Orcinus orca), or killer whale, is a toothed whale that is the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. It is the only extant species in the genus Orcinus. Orcas are recognizable by their black-and-white patterned body.
- Orca Types and Populations
Orca beaching to capture sea lion at Valdes Peninsula. A...
- Oceanic Dolphin
Oceanic dolphins or Delphinidae are a widely distributed...
- Orca (Disambiguation)
Orca, ORCA or Orcas may also refer to: People. Quintus...
- Apex Predators
The lion is the world's second-largest big cat and serves as...
- Risso's Dolphin
Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) is a dolphin, the only...
- Cosmopolitan Species
Orcinus orca and its range (in blue) In biogeography, a...
- Orca Types and Populations
- What Are Orcas?
- Hunting and Diet
- Reproduction
- Orcas in Captivity
Orcas, or killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins and one of the world's most powerful predators. They're immediately recognizable by their distinctive black-and-white coloring. Smart and social, orcas make a wide variety of communicative sounds, and each pod has distinctive noises that its members will recognize even at a distance. They use...
Though they often frequent cold, coastal waters, orcas can be found from the polar regions to the Equator. They're at the top of the food chain and have very diverse diets, feasting on fish, penguins, and marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even whales, employing teeth that can be four inches long. They are known to grab seals right off th...
Orcas are protective of their young, and other adolescent females often assist the mother in caring for them. (Learn more about how grandmother orcas care for their children's offspring.) Mothers give birth every three to ten years, after a 17-month pregnancy. They give birth to one baby at a time, which may nurse for up to two years. In most cases...
Orcas are highly intelligent, social mammals that have long been a part of marine park entertainment, performing shows for audiences. However, it's become increasingly clear that orcas do not thrive in captivity. They have evolved to swim up to 40 miles a day, foraging for food and exercising. They dive 100 to 500 feet, several times a day, every d...
4 days ago · killer whale, (Orcinus orca), largest member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). The killer whale is easy to identify by its size and its striking coloration: jet black on top and pure white below with a white patch behind each eye, another extending up each flank, and a variable
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Oct 28, 2022 · Orcas, or killer whales, are deadly and beautiful apex predators that lurk in every ocean. An orca looking out of the water at sunset, off Kaldfjorden in Norway.(Image credit: Michael...
Apr 26, 2024 · The killer whale, also known as orca, is the ocean’s top predator. It is the largest member of the Delphinidae family, or dolphins. Members of this family include all dolphin species, as well as other larger species, such as long-finned pilot whales and short-finned pilot whales , whose common names also contain "whale" instead of "dolphin."
Ten facts about orcas (killer whales) Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family. A male orca can be nearly 33 feet (10 meters) in length and weigh around 22,000 pounds (10,000kg). Orcas are highly intelligent and able to coordinate hunting tactics. Female orcas are thought to live to 80 years of age or more.
May 28, 2021 · May 28, 2021. Photo by Thomas Lipke on Unsplash. Killer Whale or orca (Orcinus orca): the largest member of the Delphinidae family, or dolphin. Kingdom: | Animalia. Phylum: | Chordata. Class:...
