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Orca gladiator (Bonnaterre, 1789) 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 is a UK-based charity that protects whales and dolphins through research, education and advocacy. You can join ORCA as a citizen scientist, donate, or book a Sea Safari to see these amazing creatures in the Bay of Biscay.
- What Are Orcas?
- Hunting and Diet
- Reproduction
- Orcas in Captivity
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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...
Learn about orcas, also known as killer whales, the largest and most powerful dolphins. Find out how they communicate, hunt, reproduce, and why they don't thrive in captivity.
- Killer Whales? More like Killer Dolphins! Even though orcas are also known as killer whales, they are the largest member of the dolphin family.
- Orcas are pretty big! Orcas measure 5.5 - 9.8 metres in length (females are usually smaller than males) and they weigh up to 5,500 kg. The male orca's dorsal fin can be up to 1.8 metres making it the largest of all the cetaceans (marine mammals including whales, dolphins and porpoises).
- How to identify an Orca. Individual orcas can be identified by their dorsal fins and saddle patches behind them, and any visible scars.
- They are a top predator. Orcas even prey on other whale species more than twice their size.
May 7, 2024 · Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family. A male orca can be nearly ten metres in length and weight 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. The dorsal fin of a male orca is up to two metres tall. Orcas are extremely fast swimmers and ...
Learn about orca, the largest dolphins with distinctive black and white markings, and their rare presence in UK waters. Find out how to identify, report and help protect these amazing marine mammals.
Jun 24, 2024 · Killer whale, also known as orca, is the largest member of the dolphin family and a powerful carnivore. Learn about its size, coloration, diet, echolocation, intelligence, menopause, and social structure in different oceans.
