Orcinus orca

• Main Authors: Russell A. Mittermeier, Don E. Wilson
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2014
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Cetacea; Delphinidae; Orcinus; Orcinus orca; Antarc*; Antarctic; Beaufort Sea; Chukchi; Chukchi Sea; Killer Whale; Orca; Ross Sea; Schwertwal; Killer whale
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6608638; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/BD4CCC617625FFEBFFDBFE4FE1F7FE11

9. Killer Whale Orcinus orca French: Epaulard / German: Schwertwal / Spanish: Orca Other common names: Orca Taxonomy. Delphinus orca Linnaeus, 1758, “Oceano Europo.” Although O. orca is currently recognized as monotypic, serious taxonomic revision is required and will likely occur in the near future. Genetic, morphological, and ecological evidence indicates that there are three ecotypes (residents, transients, and offshores) in the north-eastern Pacific Ocean, which may represent separate species or subspecies. Three distinct ecotypes have also been identified in Antarctic waters (types A, B, and C) that may correspond to putative species previously proposed in the 1980s (O. nanus and O. glacialis). Recent molecular studies strongly suggest that these three ecotypes warrant species designation. A fourth type (type D) has also been newly described from New Zealand area. Monotypic. Distribution. The most widely distributed of all cetaceans, found in almost any marine environment from the Equator to both polar zones, including semi-enclosed seas such as the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Gulf of California, Sea of Okhotsk, Yellow Sea, Sea ofJapan, Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and Ross Sea. Descriptive notes. Total length up to 980 cm (males) and up to 770 cm (females); weight up to 6600 kg (males) and up to 4700 kg (females). Neonates are 210-260 cm long and weigh 160-180 kg. The Killer Whale is the largest member of Delphinidae and is one of the most distinctive and easily recognizable cetaceans. Body is robust but streamlined, with tall dorsal fin, large paddle-shaped flippers, and blunt, poorly defined beak. It is strongly sexually dimorphic in size and morphology. Females and immature individuals have falcate dorsal fins, which may have slightly rounded tips. Adult males have much taller (up to 180 cm) dorsal fins than females (up to 80 cm) that are triangular in shape and may slant slightly forward in some geographical forms, giving the appearance of backward placement. Adult ...