Species - Orca Whale
One of the species of toothed whales that include Sperm Whales and Narwhals,
Orcas are the most widely distributed of all the earth's mammals.
The fast-swimming Orca (Orcinus orca) is generally considered to be the most
feared of all the ocean predators, though documented attacks on humans are
very rare.
A medium-length cetacean, the Orca's teeth more than make up for any lack of size. In adults, they may be almost 5 inches long, curving inwards and backwards. The teeth also interlock when the jaws close. Orcas are heavily-bodied, with a round head, a tall, triangular dorsal fin, and abnormally large flippers, which sometimes grow to 20 percent of body length.
At birth, calves are usually about 8 ft. The adult male Orca grows to about 27 ft. (maximum 32 ft.), while the female reaches an average of about 23 ft. (maximum 28ft.). As for color, Orcas are basically black above, with a sharply defined white underside. A dramatic white spot appears above the eye. The Orca social unit is the pod, an extended family of 5-20 members. Fish, squid, skates, sharks, seals, sea lions, sea otters and other whales are among their principal foods. Orcas also produce a range of distinctive calls, some of which are specific to particular pods.
There are no current reliable Orca population estimates.
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