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  • Orcinus orca

    Common Name: Killer Whale

    General Description: The largest of the dolphin family, the Killer Whale is robust but streamlined. The head is rounded, with no beak. The dorsal fin is very tall and conspicuous, sickle-like in females and immature males, but triangular and up to 1.8 m tall in large males. The flippers are very large and paddle-like.

    The colour pattern is easily recognisable. It consists of clearly defined areas of shiny black and cream or white. Generally, it is black above, with a light grey patch behind the dorsal fin. Chin, throat, belly and undersides of the tail flukes are white. There is a white patch on each flank, connected to the white belly. There is also a white oval patch just above and behind each eye. In calves, the black areas are grayish and the white areas are tinged with buffy yellow for most of the first year.

    Size: Adults, Killer Whale males are considerably larger than the females. They are about 9.5 m long and weigh up to 8 tons, whilst females are 7 to 8.5 m long and weigh 4 tons or more. Calves at birth, 2-2.4 m long.

    Appearance At Sea: Extended family groups of Killer Whales live together and cooperate in hunting.

    Killer Whales are usually approachable, as they are undisturbed by shipping. They might respond by spy hopping, which involves rising vertically so that the head and body – as far as the flippers– are above the surface.

    With their size, appearance and reputation for ferocity, Killers are ‘glamorous’ species.

    Found In: Killer Whales may be found in coastal as well as deeper waters. The diet of a Killer Whale is very diverse, including fish, squid, turtles, birds and dolphins. This animal is one of the only predators of large marine mammals, including the largest whales.

    Records from India: Killer whales have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar islands, southeast coast of India, off Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry and from the west coast of India, mainly Maharashtra to Kerala.

    There are numerous sightings and strandings from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Seychelles, the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti and Somalia.

    World Distribution: The Killer Whale is very cosmopolitan, occurring in all oceans, from the tropics to the polar regions.

    Could Be Confused With: Killer Whales are unmistakable to be ID’d.

    Diagnostic Features: At sea, tall dorsal fin, eye patches, and the flares behind the dorsal fin.

    Stranded Specimens:There are 10 to 12 pairs of large conical teeth in each jaw. The teeth are very strong and sharp, and interlock when the jaws close.

    Killer Whale

    Transient orcas near Unimak Island, eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska

    Conservation Status

    Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)[2]

    Scientific Classification

    Kingdom Animalia
    Phylum Chordata
    Class Mammalia
    Subclass Eutheria
    Order Cetacea
    Suborder Odontoceti
    Family Delphinidae
    Genus Orcinus
    Species O. orca

    Orcinus orca

    ( Linnaeus, 1758 )

    Orcinus Orca range .

    Source: Wikipedia