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, also known as killer whales, are among the world’s most easily recognized marine mammals. The largest member of the dolphin family, orcas are highly intelligent and social animals, spending their lives in groups or pods where they hunt together and share responsibility for raising young and taking care of the sick or injured.

Jan 14, 2025 · 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."

Apr 10, 2025 · 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 “saddle patch” just behind the dorsal fin

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...

Orcas (also known as killer whales) are marine mammals. They belong to the sub-order of toothed whales (known as odontocetes) but are also the largest member of the dolphin family. Orcas are incredibly popular as they are the most widely distributed of all whales and dolphins, found in every single ocean!

Knocked into the sea, the seal becomes a meal for one of the ocean's top predators—the huge orca, or killer whale. Orcas hunt everything from fish to walruses, seals, sea lions, penguins, squid,...

Jan 15, 2025 · Orcas are truly remarkable and sometimes their behaviour is perplexing. Their societies and intelligence make them vulnerable to both – mental and physical suffering. In recent months hardly a week has gone by without a story emerging in the media about orcas.

Key Characteristics of the Orca. Length: 26 feet (8 meters) Weight: 16,500 pounds (7,500 kg) Lifespan: 90 years. Diet: Fish, marine mammals, birds, and cephalopods. Conservation Status: Data Deficient. Habitat: Colder waters of Antarctica, Norway, Alaska, and North Pacific Ocean

Apr 10, 2025 · The enormous group of orcas (Orcinus orca) can be seen hunting together and circling the endangered pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) in footage posted on Instagram by the tour ...