General Description
Body black with a white oval patch behind the eye and white underneath. Dorsal fin triangular (male) or with curved edge (female). Water spray from blowhole sprays low and wide. Up to 10 m long.
Biology
Killer Whales hunt in groups when they are chasing larger prey. They eat fish, squid, sea birds, seals and small whales. Humans interactions include: Bio-accumulation of toxins.
Distribution
Worldwide. Most Australian waters. Potentially near Port Phillip, recorded from Victoria.
Habitat
Open oceans and near seal colonies.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Black with white behind the eye and underneath, low wide water spray.
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Maximum Size
10 m
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Habitats
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Diet
Carnivore
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Trade restrictions (Appendix II), FFG Threatened List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Data Deficient
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Depths
Shore (0-1 m), Shallow (1-30 m), Deep ( > 30 m)
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Water Column Locations
Surface, Midwater
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Taxon Name
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Common Name
Killer Whale
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Order
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Suborder
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
orca
