Orcinus orca - Earth.com
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12-22-2016

Orcinus orca

Orcinus orca NatureServe Explorer Species Reports — NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports — ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. The killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca) is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. It is recognizable by its black body with a white underside and patches near each eye. Killer whales have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and other species of dolphin. They have been known to attack baleen whale calves, and even adult whales. Killer whales are apex predators, as no animal preys on them. A cosmopolitan species, killer whales can be found in all of the world’s oceans in a variety of marine environments, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas, absent only from the Baltic and Black seas, and some areas of the Arctic Ocean. They are highly social; some populations are composed of very stable matrilineal family groups (pods) which are the most stable of any animal species.

FWS Digital Media Library — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

Detailed information
Full Name: Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)
Where found: Southern Resident DPS — See 50 CFR 224.101
Critical Habitat:N/A
Species Group:Mammals
Current listing status
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
Endangered 02/16/2006 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Southern Resident DPS — See 50 CFR 224.101
  • States/US Territories in which the Killer Whale, Southern Resident DPS is known to or is believed to occur: Washington
  • US Counties in which the Killer Whale, Southern Resident DPS is known to or is believed to occur: View All
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Killer Whale, Southern Resident DPS is known to occur: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Recovery
To learn more about critical habitat please see http://ecos.fws.gov/crithab
Date
Title
Plan Action Status
Plan Status
01/17/2008 Recovery Plan for Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) View Implementation Progress Final
Date
Title
Plan Action Status
Plan Status
01/17/2008 Recovery Plan for Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) View Implementation Progress Final
Date
Citation Page
Title
Document Type
Status
11/29/2006 71 FR 69054 69070 Designation of Critical Habitat for Southern Resident Killer Whale (NMFS): Final rule. Final Rule Final designated
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