Killer Whale defined and explained with descriptions. Killer Whale is a large, toothed whale. Also called "orcas," they are very intelligent predators.
Orcinus orca is the only extant species recognized in the genus Orcinus and one of many species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. [14] Conrad Gessner wrote the first scientific description of an orca in his Piscium & aquatilium animantium natura of 1558, part of the larger Historia animalium, based on examination of a dead stranded. Description 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. An orca calf swims with two adults during a herring feeding. Orcas are skilled hunters that coordinate attacks as a group.
Killer whale, 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. The killer whale is the largest member of the dolphin family.
The population of Southern Resident killer whales in the Pacific Northwest is one of the most critically endangered marine mammals. Learn about our work to protect and conserve killer whales. Ten facts about orcas (killer whales) Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family.
A male orca can be nearly 33 feet (10 meters) in length and weigh around 22,000 pounds (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 6 feet (2 meters) tall. Orcas are. Description & Behavior Orcas vs.
Elephant Seals: Ocean Channel Orcas (formerly known as killer whales, blackfish, and murder pandas), Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758), are actually dolphins. And they are the largest of the dolphin family (Family Delphinidae ~ 32 species, including what we normally consider dolphins, pygmy killer whales, Feresa attenuata, and false killer whales, Pseudorca. The longest Killer Whale ever recorded was a male from Washington state, measuring 9.8 m (32 ft).
Calves at birth weigh about 180 kg and are about 2.4 m long (8 ft). The Killer Whale's large size and strength make them the fastest marine mammals, often reaching speeds in excess of 56 km/h (35mph). Orcinus Orca is one of the most widely-distributed marine mammals in the world, and is the world's largest species of dolphin.
They are known as Orcas, Killer Whales or - off the west coast of North America - Blackfish. They are found in all of the world's major oceans, covering all latitudes, and inhabit both coastal waters and open oceans.