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Killer Whale
(Orcinus orca)
Courtesy of Tom Haight
This
largest member of the dolphin family is seldom seen in Southern
California, but when they are, it is a sight to behold.
They are black with white bellies and white to gray markings.
The males can grow up to 30 feet in length with a six foot
high dorsal fin. They live in close-knit family groups called
pods. Their diet can consist of fish, squid and other marine
mammals. The most closely studied group of orcas in the
wild live along the British Columbia coastline. Scientists
have found there are transient and resident populations,
each preferring different diets. Recently, some scientists
believe there is a third type called oceanic. Overall it
has been documented that orca target several hundred different
species which is more than any other cetacean. That said,
there has never been an authenticated attack on a human
by a wild orca. The life span of the orca has been estimated
to be between 30 and 50 years in the wild. The orca has
been seen in every major ocean in the world.
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