Identifying Killer Whales

Killer whales are extremely distinctive with jet-black bodies and white patches usually over the eyes, under the jaw, on the belly, and extending onto their sides.  

Killer Whales Sizes

Female killer whales can grow up to 26 feet (7.9 meters) with a 3 foot dorsal fin while male killer whales are larger than the females growing up to 28 feet (8.5 meters) with a 6 foot (1.3 meters) dorsal fin. Male killer whales weigh about 10 tons - that's as heavy as two elephants!

A male killer whale has a large pointed fin on top of its body. These dorsal fins are up to 6 feet high. A female killer whale has a smaller, curved dorsal fin. The dorsal fin keeps a killer whale ready when it swims fast.

Killer Whales ' teeth

Killer whales have 48 to 52 teeth that are large and conical shaped as well as slightly curved back and inward.

Killer Whales ' Dorsal Fins

One evidence of genetic differences between resident killer whales, transient killer whales, and offshore killer whales is that there are subtle differences in the shape of their dorsal fins. These differences are most consistently seen in female killer whales. especially the shape of the fin tip.

• Resident killer whales tend to have dorsal fins with rounded tip that terminates in a sharp corner.

• The dorsal fins of off shore killer whales tend to have tips that are continuously rounded.

• Transient killer whales have dorsals that tend to be more pointed at the tip, more closely resembling the dorsal fin of a shark.

Killer Whales Territories

The resident orca whales population is comprised of groups of genetically related clans or extended family groups of killer whales. They have established territories and fairly predictable patterns of movement within those territories. They travel in pods and sub-pods, often groups of up to 20 killer whales or more with individuals scattered over a wide area.

Transient killer whales, on the other hand, have neither established territories nor predictable patterns of movement. They swim in small groups of two to five or six, usually in close physical proximity.

Offshore killer whales have been encountered primarily in the open ocean, and in large groups of 30 to 60.