Ecology Summary - Orcinus orca
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Ecology of Orcinus orca
 
Main Ref. Tan, J.M.L., 1995
Remarks Lives in matrilines throughout their lifetime (Ref. 97337). Commonly found in nearshore, cold temperate to subpolar waters (Refs. 1394, 936). Forms large social groups and strong social bonds. Feeds cooperatively (Refs. 122680, 130961). Feeds on sharks, large baleen whales (Ref. 122680), all oceanic cetaceans, pinniped, penguins, and other seabirds, leatherback turtles, squid and many types of fish (Refs. 1394, 936). Three ecotypes identified along California and Oregon: residents (piscivorous), transients (mammal-eating) and offshores (preference for shark and other large fishes). Bite marks indicate attacks from Isistius sp. (Ref. 130791).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Orcinus orca may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Pelagic;
Substrate Ref. McInnes, J.D., A.W. Trites, C.R. Mathieson, M.E. Dahlheim, J.E. Moore, P.A. Olson and K.M. Lester, 2024
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref. McInnes, J.D., A.W. Trites, C.R. Mathieson, M.E. Dahlheim, J.E. Moore, P.A. Olson and K.M. Lester, 2024
Associations parasitism;
Associated with Isistius sp.
Association remarks
Parasitism outside host (Isistius sp. bites off chunks of flesh as a unique feeding strategy.)

feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Tan, J.M.L., 1995
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Tan, J.M.L., 1995

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 4.50
From individual food items 4.52 0.93 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Pauly, D., A.W. Trites, E. Capuli and V. Christensen, 1998
Ref. [ e.g. 3742]
Glossary [ e.g. cnidaria]
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