Orca

The largest dolphin

Orcas, or killer whales, are the largest members of the dolphin family. Their black-and-white pattern is distinctive and each animal can be recognised by the shape of its dorsal fin and saddle patch.

Dialects

Orca pods use calls that differ from pod to pod, much like dialects. Calves learn these calls from their mothers, and the shared call set helps pod members identify each other. Some fish-eating pods are very vocal, while mammal-hunting groups often stay quieter to avoid alerting prey.

Different populations, different needs

Orcas are split into ecotypes with different diets and cultures. Some, such as the southern resident population in the northeast Pacific, depend on declining salmon runs and face boat noise and pollution.

Further reading: Ocean Giants: How Whales Use Sound to Talk Across Oceans

Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.