Reference photo — Robert Pittman, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Orca
Orcinus orca
Distribution
Loads map tiles and observation data from OpenStreetMap and GBIF.
Range: iNaturalist (CC BY 4.0) · Base map: Natural Earth (public domain)
Quick facts
- Group
- Mammals
- Family
- Delphinidae
- Size
- 5–8 m (length)
- Weight
- 3–6 t
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Lifespan
- 30–50 yrs
- Habitat
- Open ocean, Coastal waters, Polar seas
About
The orca, or killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. The only extant species in the genus Orcinus, it is recognizable by its distinct pigmentation; being mostly black on top, white on the bottom and having recognizable white eye patches. A cosmopolitan species, it inhabits a wide range of marine environments, from Arctic to Antarctic regions to tropical seas, but is more commonly documented in temperate or cooler coastal waters.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), abridged.