In Canada, they exist primarily in the Pacific northwest. Although these three groups share the same ocean space, their social habits, diet, range, and physical appearance differ. One way scientists can tell them apart is by their dorsal fins, which tend to be more pointed on transient than on resident orcas. Orcas live in pods, clans, and communities. A pod consists of an orca mother, her young, and their extended family.
Clans consist of different pods that share the same calls and form a distinct linguistic group.
In British Columbia, resident orca pods form two communities - the southern resident community and the northern resident community. Each community acts as a support system for individual animals. In total, there are about 300 orcas within these two communities. Orcas are very social animals. Many hours of intermingling occur among individuals and pods from the same or different clans.