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Orcinus orca

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Killer Whale

G4Apparently Secure (G4G5) Found in 57 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Data deficientIUCN
PS:LEESA Status
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105428
Element CodeAMAGE07010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNData deficient
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderCetacea
FamilyDelphinidae
GenusOrcinus
USESAPS:LE
COSEWICPS:E,T
Other Common Names
Épaulard (FR) Killer Whale (EN) Orca, Ballena Asesina (ES)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Taxonomic Comments
Two forms of the killer whale occur in the coastal waters of North America from Washington to Alaska. The two groups, generally refered to as "transient" and "resident," differ in foraging behavior, habitat use, group dynamics, dorsal fin shape, pigmentation patterns, and mtDNA; apparently there is little or no gene flow between the two groups (see references in Baird et al. 1992). A third group consists of "offshore" killer whales.

Orcinus nanus and O. glacialis were described from antarctic waters in the early 1980s but, because of weak supporting evidence, these nominal species have not been accepted as valid by most authorities (O. nanus is a nomen nudum). Mead and Brownell (in Wilson and Reeder 1993, 2005) and Jones et al. (1992) regarded Orcinus as monotypic.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date1996-11-15
Edition Date1988-06-30
Edition AuthorsJennings, R.
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Cosmopolitan in oceans; abundance and trends are not well known.
Range Extent Comments
Throughout the world's oceans and seas, from high latitudes to the equator; most common in cooler coastal waters of both hemispheres, with the greatest abundance within 800 km from continental coasts.
Occurrences Comments
No exact figures.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Mainly in coastal waters, but may occur anywhere in all oceans and major seas at any time of year.

Ecology

Travels in well-defined social groups (pods), usually of fewer than 40 (averaging less than 10); sometimes forms aggregations exceeding 100. Studies in Puget Sound indicate strong social bonds and stable group structure. Typical pod contains mature females and their young (1-3 juveniles per female) and variable proportions of of males and/or post-reproductive females.

Reproduction

Mating occurs late fall to midwinter in the northeastern Atlantic. Gestation lasts about 17 months (IUCN 1991). Litter size is 1. Calf may be dependent for at least 2 years, closely associated with mother for much of juvenile period. Calving interval has been estimated at 3-8 years (higher estimates may be more typical). Sexually mature at 10-18 years. Females become reproductively senescent at 35-45 years. Estimated maximum age 80-90 years in females, 50-60 years in males.
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN3B,N3N,NNRM
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS3Yes
NunavutS2Yes
QuebecS3Yes
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
WashingtonS2Yes
New YorkSNRNYes
MarylandSNAYes
TexasS1Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
North CarolinaSNAYes
South CarolinaS4Yes
OregonSNAYes
MassachusettsS1Yes
FloridaSNRYes
MaineSNRYes
AlaskaS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridors——High (continuing)
4.3 - Shipping lanes——High (continuing)
5 - Biological resource use——High (continuing)
5.4 - Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources——High (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance——High (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activities——High (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases——High (continuing)
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseases——High (continuing)
9 - Pollution——High (continuing)
9.2 - Industrial & military effluents——High (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluents——High (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weather——Moderate - low
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alteration——Moderate - low

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Roadless Areas (57)
Alaska (50)
AreaForestAcres
Behm IslandsTongass National Forest4,777
CalderTongass National Forest9,857
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
ClevelandTongass National Forest189,447
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Dall IslandTongass National Forest105,780
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
DukeTongass National Forest45,091
East KuiuTongass National Forest27,611
EudoraTongass National Forest195,022
FanshawTongass National Forest48,248
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Freshwater BayTongass National Forest44,933
Game CreekTongass National Forest54,469
GravinaTongass National Forest37,381
Hoonah SoundTongass National Forest79,764
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
KadinTongass National Forest2,035
KekuTongass National Forest10,869
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
KogishTongass National Forest65,216
MadanTongass National Forest68,553
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
McKenzieTongass National Forest83,103
MontagueChugach National Forest204,875
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North KruzofTongass National Forest33,146
North KupreanofTongass National Forest114,660
North RevillaTongass National Forest215,430
NutkwaTongass National Forest53,735
Outer IslandsTongass National Forest99,862
Port AlexanderTongass National Forest120,681
Prince William Sound Is.Chugach National Forest118,698
RevillaTongass National Forest29,298
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
SecurityTongass National Forest31,428
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
South RevillaTongass National Forest52,105
SullivanTongass National Forest67,323
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Tenakee RidgeTongass National Forest20,527
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
Windham-Port HoughtonTongass National Forest161,952
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
Oregon (2)
AreaForestAcres
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
Washington (5)
AreaForestAcres
Green MountainOlympic National Forest4,617
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
Mt. BaldyOlympic National Forest3,557
References (23)
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  2. Baird, R. W., P. A. Abrams, and L. M. Dill. 1992. Possible indirect interactions between transient and resident killer whales: implications for the evolution of foraging specializations in the genus ORCA. Oecologia...
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  5. Falklands Conservation. 2000. Falkland Islands wildlife. Falklands Conservation. http://www.falklands-nature.demon.co.uk/wildlife/chklst.html
  6. Folkens, P. 1984. The whale watcher's handbook. Doubleday Co., Inc., Garden City, NY 208 pp.
  7. Godin, A. J. 1977. Wild mammals of New England. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 304 pp.
  8. Goley, P. D., and J. M. Straley. 1994. Attack on gray whales (<i>Eschrichtius robustus</i>) in Monteey Bay, California, by killer whales (<i>Orcinus orca</i>) previously identified in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Can. J. Zool. 72:1528-1530.
  9. Hall, E. R. 1981a. The Mammals of North America, second edition. Vols. I &amp; II. John Wiley &amp; Sons, New York, New York. 1181 pp.
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  15. Kirkevold, B. C., and J. S. Lockard, eds. 1986. Behavioralbiology of killer whales. Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York. 474 pp.
  16. Leatherwood, S., and R. R. Reeves. 1983. The Sierra Club handbook of whales and dolphins. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco. 302 pp.
  17. Orgeira, J. L. 2004. Asociaciones entre aves marinas y cetáceos en el Océano Atlántico Sur y Antártida. Ornitologia Neotropical 15:163-171.
  18. Pacheco, V., H. de Macedo, E. Vivar, C. Ascorra, R. Arana-Cardó, and S. Solari. 1995. Lista anotada de los mamíferos peruanos. Conservation International, Washington, DC.
  19. Rice, D. W. 1998. Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution. Society for Marine Mammalogy, Special Publication Number 4. ix + 231 pp.
  20. Ridgway, S. H., and R. J. Harrison. 1989. Handbook of marine mammals. Vol. 4. River dolphins and the larger toothed whales. Academic Press, New York. 442 pp.
  21. Tirira, D. 1999. Mamíferos del Ecuador. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito.
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  23. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 2005. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Third edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Two volumes. 2,142 pp. [As modified by ASM the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) at https://www.mammaldiversity.org/index.html]