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Orca gladiator (Bonnaterre, 1789) The orca ( Orcinus orca ), or killer whale, is a toothed whale that is the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. It is the only extant species in the genus Orcinus. Orcas are recognizable by their black-and-white patterned body.
English: Comparison of size of killer whale ( Orcinus orca) and great white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias ). This image assumes an average length of 4.6 metres for a great white shark (males measure 3.4 to 4.0 m (11 to 13 ft), and females measure 4.6 to 4.9 m (15 to 16 ft) on average), and 6.5 metres for a killer whale (males typically range ...
By comparison, the modern sperm whale length measures on average 11 m (36 ft) for females and 16 m (52 ft) for males, with some males reaching up to 20.7 m (68 ft) long. The large size was probably an anti-predator adaptation, and allowed it to feed on larger prey.
Iredale & Troughton (not Gray), 1933. Orcinus is a genus of Delphinidae, the family of carnivorous marine mammals known as dolphins. It includes the largest delphinid species, Orcinus orca, known as the orca or killer whale. Two extinct species are recognised, Orcinus paleorca and O. citoniensis, describing fossilised remains of the genus. [2]
Research off the west coast of Canada and the United States in the 1970s and 1980s identified the following three types: Resident (fish-eating) orcas: The curved dorsal fins are typical of resident females. Resident: These are the most commonly sighted of the three populations in the coastal waters of the northeast Pacific.
The false killer whale ( Pseudorca crassidens) is a species of oceanic dolphin that is the only extant representative of the genus Pseudorca. It is found in oceans worldwide but mainly in tropical regions. It was first described in 1846 as a species of porpoise based on a skull, which was revised when the first carcasses were observed in 1861.
Orkid at SeaWorld San Diego. Dozens of orcas (killer whales) are held in captivity for breeding or performance purposes. The practice of capturing and displaying orcas in exhibitions began in the 1960s, and they soon became popular attractions at public aquariums and aquatic theme parks due to their intelligence, trainability, striking appearance, playfulness, and sheer size.
The Cetaceans Portal. Cetacea ( / sɪˈteɪʃə /; from Latin cetus ' whale ', from Ancient Greek κῆτος ( kêtos) ' huge fish, sea monster ') is an infraorder of aquatic mammals belonging to the order Artiodactyla that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Key characteristics are their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape ...