Alternate name: Orca

Family: Delphinidae, Ocean Dolphins view all from this family

Description To 31' (9.4 m). Males more robust than females; black with white, tan, or yellow region on undersides from lower jaw to anus extending onto sides behind dorsal fin; oval, white patch just above and behind eye; usually light-gray saddle behind dorsal fin; undersides of flukes usually white. Head broad, rounded; mouth large; teeth large, pointed; no pronounced beak. Flippers large, paddle-shaped, rounded. Dorsal fin tall, distinctly falcate in females and juveniles, taller and erect in adult males, sometimes appears to bend forward.

Warning While there are no reliable records of unprovoked attacks on humans, people should be extremely cautious of these animals and leave the water when they are nearby.

Similar Species False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens) has faint gray blaze; body dark overall.

Habitat Upper layers of cooler coastal seas; occasionally large rivers and tropical seas.

Range In Atlantic from pack ice to Lesser Antilles, including N., E., and W. Gulf of Mexico. In Pacific from Chukchi Sea to equator.

Discussion The Killer Whale is also known as the Blackfish, Grampus, Orca, and because large males have a tall dorsal fin, the Sword Fish. The scientific names Grampus orca and Orca gladiator have been applied until fairly recently; the latter seems especially appropriate, since Killer Whales are often ferocious in their feeding habits. On occasion groups of these animals attack baleen whales, pinnipeds such as seals, and small Odontocetes. They are also known to feed on fishes, squids, sea turtles, and sea birds. They have been known to attack and mortally wound baleen whales, and then leave without eating them.