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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
killer
whale, orca |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Cetacea |
| SUBORDER: |
Odontoceti |
| FAMILY: |
Delphinidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Orcinus
orca |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Killer
whales are easily recognized by their large size
and striking black and white coloration. The dorsal
surface and pectoral flippers are black except for
a grayish patch (saddle) that lies behind the dorsal
fin and a white eyespot located just above and slightly
behind each eye. The ventral surface, lower jaw
and undersides of the flukes are predominately bright
white. |
| MALE |
In
mature males, the dorsal fin is tall and triangular
and may reach a height of 1.8 m (6 ft.). Also, adult
males tend to be larger than adult females. |
| FEMALE |
In
most females, the dorsal fin is typically smaller
and slightly falcate (curved back), reaching an
average height of 0.9-1.2 m (3-4 ft.). |
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| SIZE: |
Calves
average 2.6 m (8.5 ft.) in length |
| MALE |
Averages
5.8-6.7 m (19-22 ft.); largest males on record were
9.8 m (32 ft.) |
| FEMALE |
Averages
4.9-5.8 m (16-19 ft.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
Newborn
calves weigh 136-181 kg (300-400 lb.) |
| MALE |
Averages
3,628-5,442 kg (8,000-12,000 lb.); largest males
recorded weighed 10,000 kg (22,000 lb.) |
| FEMALE |
Averages
1,361-3,628 kg (3,000-8,000 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Fishes,
marine mammals, birds and sea turtles |
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| GESTATION: |
15-18
months; 17 months on average |
| ESTRAL
PERIOD |
Varies;
tend to come into estrus several times a year or
more |
| NURSING
DURATION |
12
or more months (wean) |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
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| MALE |
At
about 5.5-6.1 m (18-20 ft.); 10-13 years |
| FEMALE |
At
about 4.6-4.9 m (15-16 years); 6-10 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
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| MALE |
Approximately
30 years (more info) |
| FEMALE |
Approximately 50 years (more info) |
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| RANGE: |
Oceans
worldwide; most abundant in the Arctic and Antarctic
and in areas of cold-water upwelling |
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| HABITAT: |
Coastal
and offshore waters; resident pods may frequent
localized waterways (bays, sounds, etc.) whereas
transient pods tend to cover more extensive, varied
areas |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Estimated
80,000-90,000; possibly more |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Data Deficient |
| CITES |
Appendix
II |
| USFWS |
Endangered (specific to a subpopulation found along the U.S. western seaboard known as the Southern Resident Distinct Population Segment (DPS)) |
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| 1. |
Killer
whales are toothed whales and are the largest member
of the dolphin family, Delphinidae. |
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| 2. |
The distinctive coloration of killer whales is a
type of camouflage known as disruptive coloration
in which the color pattern of an animal contradicts
the animal's body shape. In the flickering, filtered
sunlight of the sea, other animals may not recognize
a killer whale as a potential predator. |
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| 3. |
Killer whales live in groups called pods. A pod
may have less than 5 to about 30 individuals: a
mix of males, females, and calves of varying ages.
Sometimes, several smaller pods join together to
form larger herds of 50 or more whales. |
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| 4. |
A
female-dominant social hierarchy exists within a
group of killer whales. The animals may rank and
establish themselves within the hierarchy by behaviors
such as tail-slapping, head-butting, jaw-snapping,
biting, tooth-raking and various other postures
and gestures. |
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| 5. |
Killer
whales are apex or top predators in the ocean. Known
as "wolves of the sea", killer whales
often hunt cooperatively in pods for food; working
together to encircle and herd prey into a small
area before attacking. When hunting a large whale,
a pod of killer whales may attack the whale from
several angles. They may also slide out onto sandbars
or ice floes in pursuit of prey and are capable
of hitting ice floes from below to knock prey into
the water. |
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| 6. |
A
recent survey of killer whales off the coast of
New Zealand documented that 23% of males had bent
dorsal fins. |
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| 7. |
Killer
whales are among the fastest swimming marine mammals.
They can swim as fast as 48 kph (30 mph), but they
usually cruise at much slower speeds, about 3-10
kph (2-6 mph). |
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| 8. |
For
more information about killer whales, explore the
killer
whale info book. |
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| Although
the worldwide population of killer whales is unknown,
we do know that killer whales are not endangered (with the notable exception of the Southern Resident DPS - see Status).
In some areas of the Antarctic alone their numbers
have been estimated at about 180,000. Researchers
can identify individual killer whales by taking
pictures of dorsal fins, noting differences in shape,
relative size, and scars. As with other marine mammals,
the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 protects
killer whales. |
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|
|
Jefferson, T.J. Leatherwood, S. and M.A. Webber.
FAO Species Identification Guide. Marine Mammals
of the World. Rome. FAO, 1993. |
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|
Leatherwood, Stephen, and Reeves, Randall R. The
Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins.
San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1983.
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| Nowak,
Ronald M. (ed.). Walker's Mammals of the World.
Vol. II. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1991. |
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| Parker,
S. (ed.). Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals.
Vol. IV. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.,
1990. |
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| Reeves,
R. R., Stewart, B.S., Clapman, P.J., and J.A. Powell
(Peter Folkens illustrator). National Audubon
Society: Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.
New York: Random House, 2002. |
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| Wlodarski,
L. Killer Whales: Creatures of Legend and Wonder.
Orlando. SeaWorld, Inc. 2000. |
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| http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu |
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