The Killer whale

​General description

he killer whale has a massive body and a conical head without an apparent rostrum. Its dorsal fin, located in the center of its back, is high and straight in males (up to 2 meters) while it is smaller and curved in females (about 1 meter). This cetacean has black pigmentation with a white belly and characteristic white post-ocular spots. A grayish or whitish saddle is visible behind the dorsal fin. Its pectoral fins are wide and rounded, reminiscent of paddles.

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Habitat

Cosmopolitan, the killer whale present in all the oceans and seas of the world, from tropical to polar waters. It frequents both coastal areas and the open sea. It is rarely observed in the waters of the Caribbean. The majority of records were located in the Northeast Pacific, the Northeast Atlantic and the Southwest Atlantic. Two distinct forms are described: the "Northeast Pacific" form and the "Antarctic" form, which are distinguished by their post-ocular spots, the shape of their dorsal fin and the color of their saddle.

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Diet

As a large predator, the killer whale has one of the most varied diets among cetaceans. It consumes fish, seabirds, sharks and even other cetaceans. Its diet varies according to the populations: some feed exclusively on fish (as in British Columbia), while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and sea lions. Hunting strategies are specific to each group and are transmitted culturally. For example, the beaching technique, where orcas deliberately beach themselves to capture sea lions, is observed in Argentina and the Crozet Islands. In Antarctica, some use the wave-washing technique to knock seals off the ice floe.​

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Behavior

Highly social, killer whales live in family groups of 5 to 20 individuals, organized around a matriarch female and spanning several generations. They generally remain within their group for their entire lives. Each group has a unique vocal dialect, used for communication. They emit clicks for echolocation, whistles for social interactions and squeaks for long-distance communication. During periods of socialization or hunting, they are particularly active on the surface, hitting the water with their caudal fin or throwing their prey into the air. During reproduction, several family groups temporarily gather, forming aggregations that can reach a hundred individuals.