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Orca (Killer Whale)

Orca

Estimated Population:Unknown, IUCN Red list-threatened

Ways to identify this species: black whale with white belly and white spots

Biology

The orca is most common in Arctic and Antarctic waters. In the US, orcas are located along the western coast of North America from Southeast Alaska to California.

Three distinct types of killer whale pods exist: transient, resident and offshore. Transient pods are small, migratory pods that hunt other marine mammals including seals, sea otters and sometimes other whales. Resident pods are larger, generally coastal pods that remain stable over time and prefer eating fish. Research on offshore pods is limited, as they are difficult to observe.

Killer whales are not true whales, but the largest member of the dolphin family. Like other dolphins, they use echolocation to hunt. They are fast and powerful hunters, able to reach speeds of up to 30 mph in short bursts.

Threats

Depletion of salmon stocks threaten resident orca pods.

Increasing pollution and whale watching disturbances also menace their habitat.

Entanglement in nets and boat collisions often injure or even kill these whales.

Killer whales are among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world, mostly coming from chemical pollution.

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