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Animal World
Orca — photograph 1
📷 Wikimedia Commons · Free License
IUCN: Data Deficient

Orca

Orcinus orca

KingdomAnimalia›PhylumChordata›ClassMammalia›OrderArtiodactyla›FamilyDelphinidae›GenusOrcinus
About

The 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. Scientists have proposed dividing the global population into races, subspecies, or possibly even species.

Key Facts
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Habitat
All oceans, from Arctic and Antarctic to tropical seas
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Diet
Fish, squid, seals, sea lions, dolphins, and even large whales
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Size & Weight
Body 5–8 m; weight 3.6–5.5 tonnes (males)
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Lifespan
50–80 years
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Range
Worldwide — every ocean and most seas
MammalMarine
Photo Credits
#1Wikimedia Commons · Free License
#2Christopher Michel · CC BY 2.0
#3Poulos~commonswiki · Public domain
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