Orca
Orcinus orca
biology
The Orca, also known as the Killer Whale, is the largest member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). Newborns are about 2.1 m to 2.5 m long and weigh approximately 180 kg. Adult females reach lengths of up to 8.5 m and weigh about 4 tonnes, while adult males are significantly larger, reaching up to 9.8 m and weighing nearly 9 tonnes. They possess 10 to 14 pairs of large, powerful teeth in each jaw. These are long-lived apex predators, with females reaching up to 90 years of age.
Orcas have a robust body with an unmistakable black and white coloration. Their distinctive markings include a white "eyepatch" above and behind each eye, a white throat and belly, and a grey "saddle patch" behind the dorsal fin. The most striking feature of the adult male is the extraordinarily tall, vertical dorsal fin, which can reach up to 1.8 m in height—the tallest of any animal. In females and juveniles, the dorsal fin is smaller and falcate (curved). Their pectoral flippers are large and paddle-shaped.
In the North Atlantic, orcas are divided into two distinct ecotypes: one that primarily eats fish (such as herring and tuna) and another that preys on marine mammals (including other dolphins and seals). They live in stable, matrilineal social groups (pods) where individuals often stay with their mothers for their entire lives. Despite their popular name, there are no recorded incidents of orcas attacking humans in the wild; they are highly intelligent, social, and often show curiosity toward boats.
Orcas have a robust body with an unmistakable black and white coloration. Their distinctive markings include a white "eyepatch" above and behind each eye, a white throat and belly, and a grey "saddle patch" behind the dorsal fin. The most striking feature of the adult male is the extraordinarily tall, vertical dorsal fin, which can reach up to 1.8 m in height—the tallest of any animal. In females and juveniles, the dorsal fin is smaller and falcate (curved). Their pectoral flippers are large and paddle-shaped.
In the North Atlantic, orcas are divided into two distinct ecotypes: one that primarily eats fish (such as herring and tuna) and another that preys on marine mammals (including other dolphins and seals). They live in stable, matrilineal social groups (pods) where individuals often stay with their mothers for their entire lives. Despite their popular name, there are no recorded incidents of orcas attacking humans in the wild; they are highly intelligent, social, and often show curiosity toward boats.
observation
The orca is the most cosmopolitan of all cetaceans, found from the equator to the polar ice edges. Because of their unique coloration and the male's towering dorsal fin, they are impossible to confuse with any other species.
In the Azores, orcas are considered seasonal visitors. While they can be seen between April and August, a recent study shows that 68.6% of Azorean sightings happen in the spring, likely following the peak migration of tuna. They are rare in the archipelago, with sightings typically occurring only 0 to 3 times per year. When they do appear, they are often seen breaching, spyhopping, or tail-slapping.
In the Azores, orcas are considered seasonal visitors. While they can be seen between April and August, a recent study shows that 68.6% of Azorean sightings happen in the spring, likely following the peak migration of tuna. They are rare in the archipelago, with sightings typically occurring only 0 to 3 times per year. When they do appear, they are often seen breaching, spyhopping, or tail-slapping.
names
PT: Orca
AÇORES: Quilha
ENG: Orca (or Killer whale)
FR: Orque (ou Épaulard)
DE: Schwertwal (ou Orca)
IT: Orca
ESP: Orca
NL: Orca (ou Zwaardwalvis)
AÇORES: Quilha
ENG: Orca (or Killer whale)
FR: Orque (ou Épaulard)
DE: Schwertwal (ou Orca)
IT: Orca
ESP: Orca
NL: Orca (ou Zwaardwalvis)
Scientific name
Orcinus orca
Discovery
Linnaeus, 1758