Teacher Resources > Facts about Dolphins & Whales > Facts about Orca whales (Killer whales)
Facts about Orca whales (Killer whales)
Factfile
| Scientific name: | Orcinus orca |
| Family: | Delphinidae |
| Range: | All oceans, prefers cooler waters |
| Habitat: | Coastal and oceanic waters |
| Status: | Locally common |
| Population: | In excess of 100,000 |
| Diet: | Varied, from fish and squid to marine mammals |
| Length: | 6-9.8m, males larger than females |
| Weight: | 3.3-10 tons |
Identification
| Flukes: | Slightly concave trailing edges and distinct notch. Upper side is dark and underside pale |
| Dorsal fin: | Tall dorsal fin is slightly forward of midline. Triangular in adult males and curved in adult females |
| Flippers: | Black or dark grey, broad with rounded tips |
| Shape of head: | Slightly rounded melon and gently tapered snout. Upper head in black with a bold white patch behind each eye. Chin and throat are white |
| Body: | Black upper body with grey “saddle patch” just behind dorsal fin. Bold white curved patch extends into each flank from the white underside |
| Blow: | Low and bushy, visible in cool, still air |
| Group size: | Usually in family or social groups (pods) of 3-25. Several pods may gather temporarily |
| Behaviour: | Often inquisitive and playful and may breach, lobtail, flipper-slap and spyhop. Sometimes rolls to slap dorsal fin on the surface. When travelling, a common dive pattern is 4-5 dives of less than 30 seconds each, followed by a longer dive of 5-10 minutes |
