"Orca" redirects here. For other uses, see Orca (disambiguation). Killer whale[1] Transient killer whales near Unimak Island, eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska Conservation status Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)[2] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae Genus: Orcinus Fitzinger, 1860 [3] Species: O. orca Binomial name Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758) [4] Orcinus orca range (in blue) Synonyms Orca gladiator The killer whale (Orcinus orca), commonly referred to as the orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. Killer whales as a species 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 sea lions, seals, walruses and even large whales. Killer whales are regarded as apex predators, lacking natural predators and preying on even large sharks. Killer whales are highly social; some populations are composed of matrilineal family groups which are the most stable of any animal species.[5] Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviors, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been described as manifestations of culture.[6] The IUCN currently assesses the orca's conservation status as data deficient because of the likelihood that one or more killer whale types are separate species. Some local populations are considered threatened or endangered due to prey depletion, habitat loss, pollution (by PCBs), capture for marine mammal parks, and conflicts with fisheries. In late 2005, the killer whales known as the "southern resident killer whales" were placed on the U.S. Endangered Species list. Wild killer whales are not considered a threat to humans,[7] although there have been cases of captives killing or injuring their handlers at marine theme parks. Killer whales feature strongly in the mythologies of indigenous cultures, with their reputation ranging from being the souls of humans to merciless killers. 虎鯨（學å??：Orcinus orca）å?ˆç¨±ç‚ºæ®ºäººé¯¨ï¼ˆKiller Whale）ã€?逆戟鯨，英文中有時稱之為Orca或Grampus，虎鲸属于海豚科，是海豚科体型最大的一类。地ç?ƒä¸Šçš„所有大洋中都有虎鲸生活，从冰冷的大西洋和å?—æž?地区，到热带海域。 虎鲸是一ç§?é?žå¸¸è?ªæ˜Žçš„食肉动物。一些个体几乎å?ªå?ƒé±¼ç±»ï¼Œå?¦å¤–一些则会猎æ?€å…¶ä»–海洋哺乳动物，包括海豹ã€?æµ·ç‹®ã€?海象，甚至是鲸目ã€?海豚科的其他物ç§?如海豚，他们是海洋食物链的顶端。世界上有五ç§?ä¸?å?Œçš„虎鲸，其中一些也许分æˆ?å?•ç‹¬çš„ç§?æ—?，亚ç§?，甚至是ä¸?å?Œçš„ç§?。虎鲸是一ç§?高度社会化的动物，有一些群体组æˆ?的家æ—?是动物界中最稳定的家æ—?。虎鲸的一些å¤?æ?‚社会行为，æ?•çŒŽæŠ€å·§ï¼Œå’Œå£°éŸ³äº¤æµ?，被认为是虎鲸拥有自己的文化的è¯?æ?®ã€‚ 虽然虎鲸ä¸?是濒å?±ç‰©ç§?，但是一些本地ç§?群还是因为食物匮ä¹?，å?„ç§?海洋主題公园的æ?•æ?‰ï¼Œå’Œæ¸”业的冲çª?，噪音污染，航è¿?船å?ªï¼Œè¿‡å¤šçš„观鲸船å?ªå’Œæ –æ?¯åœ°ä¸§å¤±ç­‰ç­‰åŽŸå› å?—到å¨?èƒ?。 一般认为，野生的虎鲸ä¸?会å¨?èƒ?人类的安全。但有一些孤立的报告显示，被æ?•èŽ·çš„虎鲸会攻击人类，在最近的一个案例中，虎鲸在一个海洋主题公园袭击了它们的饲养员。因å??稱關係，虎鲸ç»?常被错误的认为是大型鲸类的一ç§?。

• published: 12 Jul 2011
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