Orca bodies have distinctive black and white markings. Both females and males have similar markings except on the underside, where it is possiable to distinguish male from female. The dorsal fin also distinguishes male and female adults. In the mature male the erect dorsal fin may reach a height of 5.5ft but the female dorsal fin grows only to an average of 3ft. They have a tail, falcate, dorsal fin and large paddle-like flippers.
Orcas are one of the toothed whales.
Orcas have 10 to 13 pairs of interlocking conical teeth in the upper and lower jaws, usually a total of 48. The number of rings within the teeth may tell how old an individual orca is. No one knows for sure how long an orca will live. They have researched females live on average 50 years and may live as long as 80 years. Males on average live only 30 years.