Orca Killer Whale

The orca (Orcinus orca), also called killer whale, is not a whale at all but the largest member of the dolphin family. Orcas are apex predators that hunt everything from fish to great white sharks and even blue whales. They are among the most intelligent animals on Earth, with complex social structures, dialects, and cultural traditions passed between generations. Different orca populations are so culturally distinct — in diet, behavior, communication, and even genetics — that some scientists argue they should be classified as separate species. Resident orcas eat fish; transient orcas hunt marine mammals; offshore orcas eat sharks. Females can live past 90 and serve as matriarchs whose knowledge is essential to pod survival.