Orcas (Killer Whales)

Basic Information & Classification

Orcas aren’t actually whales — they’re the largest member of the dolphin family!

Scientists call Orcas by their scientific name “Orcinus orca,” which means “belonging to the kingdom of the dead” in Latin!

A group of Orcas is called a “pod,” and they stay together their whole lives!

Male Orcas are called “bulls,” females are called “cows,” and babies are called “calves”!

Orcas can be found in every ocean on Earth, from the freezing Arctic and Antarctic to warm tropical waters!

Wild Orcas typically live between 50–90 years, with females generally living longer than males!

The largest male Orcas can grow up to 32 feet (9.8 meters) long — that’s as long as a school bus!

A full-grown male Orca can weigh up to 22,000 pounds (10,000 kilograms) — that’s as heavy as about six large cars!

Orcas are apex predators, which means they’re at the top of their food chain and no other animal hunts them!

There are different types of Orcas called “ecotypes,” and each type has its own special diet and hunting style!

Physical Characteristics

An Orca’s distinctive black and white coloring helps camouflage them from both above and below in the water!

Orcas have a layer of blubber that can be up to 4 inches (10 cm) thick to keep them warm in cold water!

Each Orca has a unique dorsal fin that can be up to 6 feet (1.83 meters) tall in adult males — that’s taller than most humans!

An Orca’s teeth can be up to 3 inches (8 cm) long — about the length of your index finger!

Orcas have about 40 to 56 teeth in total, and they’re all roughly the same size and shape!

An Orca’s tail fin (called a fluke) can be up to 9 feet (2.74 meters) wide — that’s wider than a king-size bed!

Orcas have excellent eyesight both in and out of water, and can even see well in dim light!

The white patches above and behind an Orca’s eyes are called “eye patches,” and they’re different on every Orca!

Orcas have a special organ in their forehead called a melon that helps them use echolocation!

An Orca’s skin is about 2 inches (5 cm) thick and constantly replacing itself, shedding to reduce drag in the water!

Orcas are one of the few animals known to teach their young specific hunting techniques!

Each Orca pod has its own unique set of calls, like a special language that only family members understand!

Orcas can swim up to 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) — that’s faster than the fastest human runner!

Orcas sleep by resting one half of their brain at a time, always keeping one eye open to watch for danger!

Orcas can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes while diving deep underwater!

Orcas use echolocation to find food, sending out sound waves that bounce off objects and return to them like a natural sonar!

Some Orca pods work together to create waves that can wash seals off ice floes!

Orcas can jump completely out of the water (called breaching) up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) high!

Each Orca pod has a specific hunting territory that they defend from other pods!

Habitat & Survival

Orcas can dive up to 3,000 feet (914 meters) deep — that’s almost as deep as 10 football fields stacked end to end!

Some Orcas travel up to 100 miles (161 km) in a single day while looking for food!

Orcas live in all oceans but prefer cooler waters with temperatures between 32-50°F (0-10°C)!

Different types of Orcas prefer different habitats — some like the open ocean, while others stay close to coastlines!

Orcas don’t migrate seasonally like many whales, but they do follow their prey’s movements!

Some Orcas specialize in hunting fish, while others prefer hunting marine mammals!

Coastal Orcas often return to the same areas year after year, following salmon runs!

Orcas can survive in both shallow water near coastlines and in deep ocean waters over 1,000 feet (305 meters) deep!

Some Orcas have learned to beach themselves temporarily to catch seals on shore!

Orcas can swim through ice-covered waters by using leads (channels) in the ice!

Life Cycle

Baby Orcas are born tail-first and have to be pushed to the surface by their mothers for their first breath of air!

Newborn Orca calves weigh about 400 pounds (181 kg) and are around 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) long — as big as a full-grown bottlenose dolphin!

Baby Orcas are born with a yellowish or orangish tint instead of pure white patches!

Mother Orcas carry their babies for 17 months before giving birth — that’s almost twice as long as human mothers!

Baby Orcas nurse underwater but have special muscles that lock them onto their mother’s nipple so they don’t float away!

Mother Orcas produce up to 60 gallons (227 liters) of milk each day — that’s enough to fill a bathtub!

Female Orcas can have babies until they’re about 40 years old, but then help raise their grandchildren!

Young Orcas stay with their mothers for their entire lives in most populations!

Baby Orcas learn to swim in the slipstream of their mother’s wake, which helps them save energy while swimming!

Diet & Feeding

An adult Orca can eat up to 500 pounds (227 kilograms) of food each day — that’s like eating 2,000 quarter-pound hamburgers!

Different Orca populations eat different foods — some only eat fish, while others prefer seals or even other whales!