Knowra Orca Orca The orca, or killer whale, is the largest member of the dolphin family. It is a highly social toothed whale found in oceans worldwide, with populations that differ in diet, behavior, and vocal traditions.
Oceanic dolphins : A family of toothed whales that includes dolphins, pilot whales, and orcas. Orcas are the largest members of this family, despite their common name calling them whales.
Cooperative hunting : A hunting strategy in which individuals coordinate actions to capture prey. Orcas often coordinate attacks, with tactics shaped by prey and local tradition.
Orca in captivity : An orca held in a human-managed setting, such as a marine park or aquarium. Captive orcas have become central to debates about animal welfare and public display.
False killer whale : A large oceanic dolphin with a dark body and a name derived from skull shape, not close kinship to killer whales. Its common name invites confusion, but it is a different dolphin species.
Trophic cascade : An ecological chain reaction in which changes to predators alter populations and effects across a food web. Orca predation can indirectly change the abundance and behavior of other marine animals.
Toothed whale : A group of whales that use teeth and echolocation to detect and capture prey. Orcas belong to this group and share its sound-based hunting and communication abilities.
Acoustic communication : The exchange of information through sounds such as calls, clicks, and whistles. Distinctive calls help orca groups coordinate and maintain contact underwater.
Orca–human interaction : The varied encounters between orcas and people, including observation, fishing, and conflict. Orca interactions with fisheries and vessels affect both human livelihoods and whale behavior.
Pilot whale : A large, highly social oceanic dolphin that lives in stable groups. Like orcas, pilot whales form strong social bonds, but they are smaller and have different diets.
Keystone species : A species whose ecological influence is unusually large relative to its abundance. As apex predators, orcas can exert strong effects on the marine communities they inhabit.
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