Orca
Species Name: Orcinius Orca
Common Name: Killer Whale
Group Name: Pod
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Suborder: Odontoceti
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Orcinus
Killer Whales (Orcas) are part of the Whale family and are classed as Toothed Whales. Orcas are in fact the largest member of the dolphin family.
Sounds confusing, I know. So read on...
Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises are classified as Cetacea.
Within Cetacea are two suborders: Baleen Whales and Toothed Whales.
Baleen Whales include the really big ones, such as Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, Fin Whales, Humpbacks.
Toothed Whales include Dolphins, Porpoises and Orcas
Average life span in the wild is 50 to 80 years.
Newborn calves weigh 300 to 400 lbs (136 to 181 kg).
A full grown Orca can be relative in the size to a city bus, at 23 to 32 feet in length and weigh in at up to 6 tons.
Their distinctive black and white coloring does have an important purpose.
It is a type of camouflage known as disruptive coloration, in which the color pattern of an animal contradicts the animal's body shape.
Because of this, in the flickering sun-lite waters, other animals may not recognize an Orca as a threat.
