Orcinus orca

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Killer Whale

Oblique view of animal leaping out of water. Formerly in order Cetacea. Also as Orca.
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Location:USA, CA, San Diego Co., Sea WorldDate taken:Jan 1, 1987Description:Oblique view of animal leaping out of water. Formerly in order Cetacea. Also as Orca.

Distribution :

Worldwide: all seas and oceans.

Image courtesy of the ASM Mammal Images Library · MIL ID: 979

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Artiodactyla
Suborder : Cetacea
Infraorder : Odontoceti
Superfamily : Delphinoidea
Family : Delphinidae
Subfamily : incertae sedis
Genus : Orcinus

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Linnaeus, C. 1758-01-01. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 823 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033888

Original name as described

Delphinus Orca

Other common names

Orca

Type material

lost (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Type locality

"Oceano Europæo."

Biogeographic realm

Marine

Country distribution

Algeria · American Samoa · Anguilla · Antarctica · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Aruba · Australia · Bahamas · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belize · Benin · Bermuda · Bonaire · Brazil · British Virgin Islands · Brunei · Cambodia · Cameroon · Canada · Cape Verde · Cayman Islands · Chile · China · Christmas Island · Cocos Islands · Colombia · Comoros · Cook Islands · Costa Rica · Cote d'Ivoire · Cuba · Curaçao · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Denmark · Djibouti · Dominica · Dominican Republic · East Timor · Ecuador · El Salvador · Equatorial Guinea · Falkland Islands · Fiji · France · French Guiana · French Polynesia · French Southern and Antarctic Lands · Gabon · Galápagos Islands · Gambia · Germany · Ghana · Greenland · Grenada · Guadeloupe · Guam · Guatemala · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Iceland · India · Indonesia · Iran · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Jamaica · Japan · Kenya · Kiribati · Liberia · Madagascar · Malaysia · Maldives · Marshall Islands · Martinique · Mauritania · Mexico · Micronesia · Morocco · Mozambique · Myanmar · Namibia · Nauru · Netherlands · New Caledonia · New Zealand · Nicaragua · Nigeria · Niue · Northern Marianas · Norway · Oman · Pakistan · Palau · Panama · Papua New Guinea · Peru · Philippines · Pitcairn · Portugal · Puerto Rico · Republic of the Congo · Russia · Saba · Saint Barthélemy · Saint Helena · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · Senegal · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Sint Eustatius · Sint Maarten · Solomon Islands · Somalia · South Africa · South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands · Spain · Sri Lanka · Suriname · São Tomé and Príncipe · Taiwan · Tanzania · Thailand · Togo · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Tunisia · United Arab Emirates · United Kingdom · United States · United States Virgin Islands · Uruguay · Vanuatu · Venezuela · Vietnam · Wallis and Futuna · Angola? · Bahrain? · Belgium? · Croatia? · Cyprus? · Egypt? · Eritrea? · Finland? · Greece? · Kuwait? · Lebanon? · Libya? · Malta? · Mayotte? · Montenegro? · Montserrat? · Norfolk Island? · North Korea? · Qatar? · Réunion? · Saudi Arabia? · Seychelles? · South Korea? · Sudan? · Sweden? · Syria? · Tokelau? · Turkey? · Turks and Caicos Islands? · Tuvalu?

Subregion distribution

USA(HI?)

Taxonomy notes

previously included O. ater and O. rectipinnus, but O. orca is still paraphyletic as a result of these splits and further taxonomic work is needed to establish species limits within Orcinus more broadly

Taxonomy notes citation

Morin, P.A., McCarthy, M.L., Fung, C.W., Durban, J.W., Parsons, K.M., Perrin, W.F., Taylor, B.L., Jefferson, T.A. and Archer, F.I., II. 2024. Revised taxonomy of eastern North Pacific killer whales (Orcinus orca): Bigg's and resident ecotypes deserve species status. Royal Society Open Science 11(3):231368. doi:10.1098/rsos.231368

IUCN Red List status

Not Evaluated

Species Permalink

https://mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006423

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Known distribution is shown in green and predicted distribution is in yellow. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

KnownPredicted distribution

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details.

Total: 44 names and synonyms.

Delphinus Orca

Linnaeus, 1758

Family

Delphinidae

Root name

orca

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Original type locality

Habitat in Oceano Europæo.

Type locality

Atlantic Ocean.

Authority page

77

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033888

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

Linnaeus (1758:77, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033888) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57429)
Linnaeus (1766:108, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42946304) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38438)
Berkenhout (1769:9, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25813728) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68488)
Boddaert (1772:95, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43563467) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67754)
Müller (1776:61, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51217658) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38532)
Müller (1776:8, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41499649) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37288)
Erxleben (1777:623, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873420) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)
Leske (1779:194) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69307)
Gmelin (1788:231, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25751451) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35943)
Kerr (1792:364, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38664394) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36283)
Link (1795:112, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/46272988) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35635)
Borkhausen (1797:78, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38962586) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59275)
Cuvier (1797:175, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637257) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)
Shaw (1801:513, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19633131) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37621)
Turton (1802:130, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25772986) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69249)
Fischer (1814:xxiii, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130084) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
Illiger (1815:79, 103, 110, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080935, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080959, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080966) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)
Illiger (1815:79, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080935) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)
Voigt (1819:423) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69477)
Nilsson (1820:399) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69318)
Hemprich (1820:45) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69417)
Schinz (1821:419, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51529180) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37604)
Desmarest (1822:515, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39521959) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36189)
Lesson (1827:409, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207876) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
Fischer (1829:511) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59856)
Eichwald (1831:340, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35753003) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67585)
Melchior (1834:279) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68789)
Tilesius (1835:725, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13242657) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67762)
Gray (1843:183, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/20760160) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68446)
Wagner (1846:294, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42534140) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38195)
Gistel (1848:274, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25781161) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69572)
Gervais (1853:149) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69191)
Schlegel (1862:87, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52276387) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37282)
Jackson & Groves (2015:366) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34474)

Physeter microps

O. Fabricius, 1780

Family

Delphinidae

Root name

microps

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Type locality

Greenland.

Authority publication

Copenhagen

Delphinus serra

Borowski, 1781

Family

Delphinidae

Root name

serra

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Original type locality

Er lebt bei Spizbergen, in der Straße Davis u.s.w.

Type locality

Atlantic Ocean.

Authority page

38

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28342471

Authority publication

Berlin

Name usages

Jackson & Groves (2015:366) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34474)

Delphinus Gladiator

J. P. Bonnaterre, 1789

Family

Delphinidae

Root name

gladiator

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Type locality

Atlantic Ocean.

Authority page

23

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Fischer (1814:xxiii, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130084) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
Schinz (1821:419, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51529180) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37604)
Desmarest (1822:517, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39521961) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36189)
Mead & Brownell (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9684)
Jackson & Groves (2015:366) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34474)

Delphinus Orca ensidorsatus

Kerr, 1792

Family

Delphinidae

Root name

ensidorsatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Original type locality

Inhabits the European seas, the Atlantic, towards the Antarctic Pole, and Davises Straits.

Type locality

Atlantic Ocean.

Authority page

364

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38664394

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Name usages

Kerr (1792:364, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38664394) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36283)

Delphinus Duhameli

de Lacépède, 1804

Family

Delphinidae

Root name

duhameli

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Original type locality

Un individu de cette espèce avoit été pris auprès de l'embouchure de la Loire.

Type locality

France: Loire-Atlantique.

Authority page

xliii, 314

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51130815 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51131172

Authority publication

Paris

Delphinus Duhamelii:

G. Fischer, 1814

Family

Delphinidae

Root name

duhamelii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

xxiii, 684

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130084 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130771

Authority publication

Moscow

Name usages

Fischer (1814:xxiii, 684, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130084, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130771) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
Schinz (1821:421, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51529182) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37604)
Jackson & Groves (2015:366) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34474)

Delphinus grampus

A. G. Desmarest, 1817

Family

Delphinidae

Root name

grampus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Original type locality

Le grampus habita les mers du Nord, où iî attaque les baleines, sans doute comme le font les dauphins gladiateurs. Il se voit quelquefois sur les côtes d'Angleterre. Il s'approche également de celles de France

Type locality

Atlantic Ocean.

Authority page

168

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18037861

Authority publication

Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle

Name usages

Desmarest (1822:517, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39521961) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36189)
Schinz (1825:499, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51523916) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/66129)
Gray (1828:2) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57412)
Lesson (1842:199) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
Jackson & Groves (2015:367) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34474)

Phocœna gladiator:

Lesson, 1827

Family

Delphinidae

Root name

gladiator

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

414

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207881

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1827:414, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207881) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)

Phocœna grampus:

Lesson, 1827

Family

Delphinidae

Root name

grampus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

415

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207882

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1827:415, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207882) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)

34 more names and synonyms available — use the desktop version to see them all.

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