Orca
Orca
Orcinus orca
RareDelphinidaeHarmless
ID points
- Sharply black and white, with a white oval patch behind the eye
- The male's dorsal fin is tall and straight, up to 1.8 m
- A grey saddle patch sits behind the dorsal fin
Basics
- Family
- Delphinidae
- Length
- 5.5–9.0 m
- Depth
- 0-300 m
- Regions
- Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic · Temperate & polar · Open ocean
- Distribution
- All oceans, from the poles to the tropics
- Habitat
- Open ocean, poles to tropics
- Diet
- Fish, seals, whales
Easily confused with
Common DolphinAn hourglass patch of cream and pale grey on the flank
False Killer WhaleEntirely black, with a conical head and no beak
Chinese White DolphinAdults pinkish white, calves dark grey, paling with ageFun fact
The Orca is really the largest member of the dolphin family rather than a true whale. Different populations have their own dialects and hunting cultures, and the dialects of different ecotypes diverge so far that those groups barely mix or communicate at all.