Scientific name: Orcinus orca
Common
local name: orca
The orca
or killer whale
is the largest member of the dolphin family.
Males can be up to 9m long and weigh up to 9 tons (with an average of
7,5m and 7,5 tons). Females are smaller, reaching up to 8m (average of
6,5m) and a weight of about 5 tons. Calves at birth weigh about 180kg
and are about 2,4m long.
Orcas have a robust body, adult and sub-adult males have a triangle
shaped dorsal fin that can reach up to 2m in length. The dorsal fin of
females is rounder and much smaller, being less than 1m.
Nicks, cuts and scrapes on these dorsal fins are unique allowing scientists to
identify individuals. Pectoral fins are large and oval shaped.
Orcas have a black and white coloration (ventrally white and dorsally
black) and possess laterally behind and above the eye a white
elliptically shaped patch: the postocular patch. Laterally behind
the dorsal fin they have a grey patch: the saddle patch.
These two patches serve also, together with the distinctive features of the
dorsal fin, in the identification of the orcas.