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Also known as the killer whale, orca whale, or the killer dolphin, the orca (Orcinus orca) is the largest member of the dolphin family, and one of the most distinctive of all cetaceans. The orca whale’s strikingly marked black and white body is unmistakable, being black on the upperparts, sometimes with a light grey ‘saddle patch’ behind the dorsal fin, and white on the underparts, lower jaw and undersides of the tail. White lobes extend up the sides of the body behind the dorsal fin, and there is a white, oval patch behind each eye. In newborn killer whales, the white areas of the body have an orange hue. Both the male and female killer whale have a broad, rounded head and snout, an enlarged forehead, large, paddle-shaped pectoral fins and a large dorsal fin. However, males grow larger than females, and on reaching maturity become stockier and develop disproportionately larger fins, with adult males easily recognised by the tall, erect dorsal fin, which is the largest of any cetacean, growing to an impressive 1.8 metres in height. The female killer whale, in contrast, has a more backward-curving dorsal fin, which grows to just 70 to 90 centimetres in height. The shape of an orca’s dorsal fin and saddle patch are unique to each individual.

Lifespan[]

Orcas can live up to 100 years in the wild. Reduced to 30 years in captivity, due to grinding their teeth against the walls of their tanks, often to the point where nerves are exposed.

Natural Range[]

Found throughout all of the world's oceans, the orca whale is thought to be the most widespread mammal after humans.

Diet[]

The orca or killer whale commonly hunts marine mammals and it is the world's largest predator of warm-blooded animals.

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