Killer Whale
Orcinus orca
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 7,252
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Data Deficient
Description
The orca (Orcinus orca), or killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. The only extant species in the genus Orcinus, it is recognizable by its distinct pigmentation; being mostly black on top, white on the bottom and having recognizable white eye patches. A cosmopolitan species, it inhabits a wide range of marine environments, from Arctic to Antarctic regions to tropical seas, but is more commonly documented in temperate or cooler coastal waters.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Orca”.