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The orca (Orcinus orca), or killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. It is the only extant species in the genus Orcinus and is recognizable by its black-and-white patterned body. A cosmopolitan species, it is found in diverse marine environments, from Arctic to Antarctic regions to tropical seas.
Killer whale advocates point out it has a long heritage. Indeed, the genus name Orcinus means "of the kingdom of the dead". Killer whales are apex predators, meaning that they themselves have no natural predators. They are sometimes called the wolves of the sea, because they hunt in groups like wolf packs.
It was smaller than the modern killer whale (O. orca), 4 m (13 ft) versus 7 to 10 m (23 to 33 ft), and had around 8 more teeth in its jaw. It may have resembled the modern killer whale in appearance, and could represent a transitional species between the modern killer whale and other dolphins.
Orcas or killer whales have a cosmopolitan distribution and several distinct populations or types have been documented or suggested. Three to five types of orcas may be distinct enough to be considered different races , [ 1 ] subspecies , or possibly even species [ 2 ] (see species problem ).
Based on length, Table I states up to two killer whales may be held in a pool with a minimum horizontal dimension (the diameter of a circular pool of water) of twice that length or 48 feet (15 m) and a minimum depth of 12 feet (3.7 m), giving a minimum volume of 21,700 cubic feet (615 m 3) for two killer whales.
On Nov. 20, 1820, a whaling ship from Nantucket, Mass., was attacked by a large sperm whale in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. According to the Nantucket Historical Association, the boat was ...
English: Woman swims with killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the wild in New Zealand.Additional footage by Steve Hathaway. orcaresearchtrust.org In this video, the audio has been removed from the original material and sections of the original material have been removed.
Free Willy is a family drama about an orphan, Jesse, who befriends a young killer whale, Willy, who was separated from his pod and placed in captivity. The film ends with Jesse leading Willy to ...