Killer whale, also called orca, is a large marine mammal known for its distinctive black and white coloring. The animal has a glossy black back, a mostly white underside, and a white oval patch near each eye. Adult males typically measure from 19 to 27 feet (6 to 8 meters) long and weigh 4 to 10 tons (3.6 to 9 metric tons). Females usually are somewhat smaller. Males have a dorsal fin on the back that stands up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall, more than twice the height of the female’s dorsal fin. The killer whale belongs to the marine dolphin family.
Killer whales rank among the most widely distributed mammals in the world. They occur in all oceans, typically in colder regions. Despite their wide distribution, killer whale populations remain small in most areas. Large populations occur in coastal waters of northwestern North America, northern Norway, Japan, and Iceland, as well as waters near Antarctica.
Orcas feed on fish, squids, and such marine mammals as dolphins, porpoises, seals, and whales. Different populations of orcas may eat different types of prey. In waters off northwestern North America, for example, populations known as residents feed mainly on salmon and other fish, but populations known as transients prey mostly on mammals. Orcas rarely harm people.
Killer whales often travel in groups called pods. Pods range from two to dozens of animals, usually consisting of several females and their young. In some cases, offspring of both sexes remain in a pod for life. New pods may form by splitting off from older, larger pods. Each pod communicates with its own set of underwater sounds, or dialect. Scientists believe each generation of a pod learns the dialect from the previous generation.
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Adult male killer whales have an average life expectancy of about 30 years. Adult females live about 50 years on average, though some may live up to 90 years. Female orcas give birth to their first calf at about age 14.
People have long trained killer whales to perform in shows at aquariums and amusement parks. Scientists study killer whales to better understand the animals’ behavior, including their sophisticated dialects.
Two other members of the marine dolphin family, the false killer whale and the pygmy killer whale, somewhat resemble the orca. But these animals have mostly black coloring and lack eyepatches.
