Common Killer Whale

The orca, or killer whale, is the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. It is mostly black with sharply bordered white areas: the whole lower jaw and the underside are white, the underside of the tail fluke is white, and there is a white oval patch behind each eye. Males typically range from 6 to 8 m and weigh over 6 tonnes; females are smaller, 5–7 m and about 3–4 tonnes. Calves weigh about 180 kg and are about 2.4 m long at birth (Wikipedia, general species account).

Orcas are apex predators with no natural predators, sometimes called wolves of the sea because they hunt in groups. Different populations may specialise, but whales in tropical areas seem to have more generalised diets. An orca eats about 227 kg a day, and can swim at up to 56 km/h. They live in complex societies; in the eastern North Pacific, resident whales of both sexes stay with their mothers for life.