Orca
Orcinus orca
- Scientific name
- Orcinus orca
- Group
- Marine mammals
- Rarity
- Epic
- Where to see it
- Cold / polar waters
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Data deficient
Did you know?
Orcas live in tight-knit family pods passed down through generations, each with its own vocal dialect, and some populations specialize in hunting just one type of prey.
What defines this group — Marine mammals
Warm-blooded, they nurse their young and breathe air — the group closest to us underwater.
- They breathe through a blowhole (whales, dolphins) or nostrils (seals, sea lions).
- A thick layer of blubber, rather than fur, insulates them from the cold.
- Many navigate and hunt by sound, using echolocation.