Killer Whale

Orcinus orca

General Status Rank: 
Vagrant
ELCODE: 
AMAGE07010
Common Name: 
Killer Whale
Scientific Name: 
Orcinus orca
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Marine Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Artiodactyla (Cetacea)
Family: 
Delphinidae
References: 
B001
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

3 years (in males); between 4.6 - 5.4 yrs on average
References: 
B001
BSC2

Longevity

20 to 30 years
References: 
B001

Economic/Human Considerations

not widely hunted; entertainment spectacles
References: 
B001
Habitat
in all oceans, mainly costal dwellers
References: 
B001
R084
R177
Distribution

Distribution

Score: 
G
Marine Distribution Description: 
0.17

Number of Occurrences

1 (Beaufort Sea); seen occasionally (BSC2;R084, H141) There were killer whale sightings in 2013 that garnered a lot of attention, but this was the first time in decades. None reported in 2014 that I am aware of.(H303); Killer whale sightings were located in coastal areas across the entire Canadian Beaufort Sea, but were most common in the Mackenzie Delta area. Only three observations occurred east of Cape Bathurst and Baillie Island: a 1960s observation south of Ulukhaktok, another in the mid-1980s in the same general area, and an undated sighting south of Sachs Harbour. No participants in Paulatuk reported killer whale sightings (A426)
Score: 
A
References: 
BSC2
R084
H141
H303
A426

Area of Occupancy

migratory (in atlantic and pacific oceans)
Score: 
-
Population

Population Size

Given the available (but limited) information on Beaufort Sea killer whale group sizes and prey items, it seems likely that the whales occasionally seen in this region are extralimital animals from the Bering Sea transient stock (A426)
References: 
R177
A426
Trends

Trends

Unknown
Threats

Intrinsic Vulnerability

pollutants, dumping of oil, reduction of prey base
Score: 
-
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Vagrant
Status Rank Description: 
Seen on occasions
S Rank: 
SNA
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted as Undetermined by Lois Harwwod DFO Inuvik, Drafted by Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens - Modified to Vagrant - Confirmed by DFO national Committee; Reviewed in 2010; no change; Reviewed in 2015; no change; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
June 13, 2020
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

References: 
R084
R177

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • Wilson, Don. E and Ruff, S. (eds) (1999) The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. UBC Press 750 pp. RWED Library Call#QL715.S64 - BSC2 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Baird, R. W. (1999) Status of Killer whales in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) - R084 Return
  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on Killer Whales Orcinus orca. - R177 Return

Economic Status

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Habitat

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • Baird, R. W. (1999) Status of Killer whales in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) - R084 Return
  • COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on Killer Whales Orcinus orca. - R177 Return

Longevity

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Wilson, Don. E and Ruff, S. (eds) (1999) The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. UBC Press 750 pp. RWED Library Call#QL715.S64 - BSC2 Return
  • Baird, R. W. (1999) Status of Killer whales in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) - R084 Return
  • Harwood, L (2000) Pers. communication. DFO Fisheries Management Biologist Western Arctic Area - Central and Arctic Region Fisheries and Oceans Canada - H141 Return
  • Harwood, L. (2015) e-copy - H303 Return
  • Higdon, JW, Byer, T, Brown, L, and Ferguson, SH (2013) Polar Record 49(250):307-314 - A426 Return

Population Size

COSEWIC (2008) Update COSEWIC Status Report on Killer Whales Orcinus orca. - R177 Return
,
Higdon, JW, Byer, T, Brown, L, and Ferguson, SH (2013) Polar Record 49(250):307-314 - A426 Return

Taxonomy

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return