The orca (Orcinus orca), or killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. The only extant species in the genus Orcinus, it is recognizable by its black-and-white patterned body. A cosmopolitan species, it inhabits a wide range of marine environments, from Arctic to Antarctic regions to tropical seas.

Orcas slap their tails against the surface of the water, creating a percussive sound that can be heard for miles. This behavior is called tail-lobbing . Sometimes they also slap their pectoral fins against the water; this is called a pec slap .

Orcinis Orca. They’re commonly known as the Killer whale. But the Orca isn’t actually a whale: it’s in the dolphin family. And while it shares a lot of the same characteristics of dolphins, the Orca has some unique features that are all its own, like its camouflage coloring.

A large male killer whale may have tail flukes measuring 2.75 m (9 ft.) from tip to tip. Longitudinal muscles in the back one-third of the body (both above and below the spine) move the flukes up and down.

Browse 251 authentic orca tail stock photos, high-res images, and pictures, or explore additional dolphin or deep sea stock images to find the right photo at the right size and resolution for your project. The tail of an orca or killer whale pictured in its enclosure at Loro Parque zoo aquarium.

The killer whale is one of the most recognizable marine mammals, namely due to their black and white pattern, and large size. The killer whale has round pectoral fins on either side of its body, a large dorsal fin on its back, and a tail fin – called a “fluke.”

Feb 23, 2024 · Orcas have a blowhole protected by a muscular flap, which provides protection to the cavity and opens or closes it according to the need of the animal. Like all cetaceans, this blowhole is located on top of the head to allow easier breathing process.

The final feature of the killer whale is its tail. The flippers on either side of the tail are called flukes. When fully grown, male orcas have tails that curl under.

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TACTILE —Physical contact with another orca (e.g., caressing one another with their pectoral flippers or rubbing rostrums). TAIL LOB/TAIL SLAP —Lifts its tail flukes above the water, bringing them down with force.