Is the orca a whale?

Killer whales are the largest species in the world included in the dolphin family (Delphinidae), therefore, orcas are the largest existing dolphins . They are also known as “killer whales” and this name can cause confusion, since at present they are not related to the whale family (whales), beyond being marine mammals.

However, both whales and orcas and other dolphins have a common ancestor and all belong to the order of cetaceans, but orcas and whales were separated many years ago into two groups: Odontoceti (orcas, dolphins, belugas, sperm whales) and Mysticeti (Whales); The main difference between these two groups is that the Odontoceti or odontocetes have teeth , while the Mysticeti or mysticetes have beards instead of teeth, something that is due to their diet, which is totally different. If you want to know more about the taxonomy of killer whales, we show you here How killer whales are classified .

Thus, they began to be called killer whales because of their large size, closer to that of some whales than that of many dolphins, and because of some aspects of their behavior that are somewhat distorted, since they are magnificent hunters to get their food and draw complex strategies to it.

These are the main characteristics of orcas , many of which you will see that they are more related to dolphins, which is the group to which they belong, than to whales.

• One of the most important characteristics of killer whales is their black and white color , covering the body in such a way that it identifies each individual in a unique way.
• Also, they are characterized by having a dorsal fin in the upper part of a size that can reach 1.80 meters in length and that atrophies when the killer whales are kept in captivity.
• Like dolphins, orcas have a blowhole on the top of their head, through which they breathe air above the surface of the water.
• Regarding how tall an orca is , adult males can reach 9.8 meters in length and weigh 10,000 kilos, while adult females can reach 8.5 meters and 7,500 kilos.
• Like dolphins, orcas are good swimmers and can reach speeds of up to 48 km / h , thanks to their hydrodynamic shape and powerful muscles.
• They are very intelligent marine mammals with a very complex communication system; This system also allows them to orient themselves and identify their prey.
• They are very long-lived animals, with a life expectancy between 60 and 90 years.

After a long debate on the existence of a single species of killer whale or if this group should be divided into several different species, it was agreed that there are at least 3 species of killer whales , according to genetic analyzes and observations of the different ecological specializations and of their behavior. Thus, they are distinguished:

• Killer whales associated with ice in Antarctica.
• Orcas that feed on mammals on the northwest coast of the American continent.
• The remaining killer whales. In this species, subspecies can be differentiated, and taxonomic classification can be given when additional data are available.

In addition, there is another animal with which this species is often confused: it is known as the false orca or black orca and it is another type of dolphin. Here you can better know the Difference between killer whale and false killer whale .

Killer whales are one of the greatest rulers of the sea, as the only danger they face is the human species. They are at the top of the food chain and are the largest predators in the oceans , hunting a wide variety of prey sizes, from very small to large animals.

Therefore, they have a very varied diet that includes: octopus, seals, sea lions, penguins, squid, fish (salmon, herring, tuna …), turtles, seagulls and even sharks (whale shark, basking shark, white shark, shark hammer …) and also whales, generally they are young or of smaller species, although they also attack adult specimens to feed on certain occasions.

We recommend that you read more about superior consumers in this other post about Tertiary Consumers: what they are and examples , although killer whales are sometimes one of the animals that fall into the category of quaternary consumers.

Normally, orcas live in small groups, but they can be composed of between 6 and 40 orcas and form a complex social structure. Members of a group stay together for their entire lives.

Killer whales have a very extensive distribution and inhabit all the seas and oceans of the planet, especially in the ocean basins. However, these marine mammals tend to focus on the higher latitudes, since they have a certain preference for cold waters and, above all, in the upwellings or upwellings of marine waters, where food is abundant. It is known that different species of killer whales can coexist in the same area, but they feed on different prey and are socially and genetically completely different.

Regarding the difference between orca and whale with respect to their size and weight, it can be said that the whale exceeds the orca in size . Whales can measure between 25 and 32 meters and their weight can reach 180 tons. In addition, it is within the whales where we find the largest animal in the world today: the blue whale. Here you can learn more about this huge marine creature and its current situation: Why the blue whale is in danger of extinction .

To finish we are going to comment on some other curiosities of orcas or “killer whales” :

• Among the curiosities about these mammals, we focus first on their eyes. To the simple and distant view, the eyes seem to be simulated by the two white spots that the killer whales have on each side of the head, but this is not the case. Their eyes are very small and are located just below these two white spots, on the black part of their skin.
• And finally , are killer whales dangerous? The answer to this question is that they are not dangerous directly and freely. So far there are no known attacks on people by killer whales in the wild. Although accidents with wild killer whales have been known, usually when crossing their hunting trajectory towards an already fixed prey, something that happens in seconds, and it should also be noted that in captivity their behavior can be seriously altered by the stress that they generate the conditions to which they are subjected and due to the lack of their freedom.

If you have been curious about all this information and want to learn more about these animals, here you can learn why the orca is in danger of extinction or, more specifically, why many of its populations are and why the species itself is in danger of extinction. vulnerable situation, as well as what we can do to help.