Killer Whale or Orca

Orcinus orca

Regular Summer visitors to Scotland, chiefly to Shetland.

Despite the Whale part of their name, they are members of the Dolphin Family rather than actual Whales.

With their distinctive pigmentation, Adult Orcas are rarely confused with any other species.

When seen from a distance, Juveniles can be confused with False Killer Whales or Risso's Dolphins.

The Orca is mostly black but with sharply bordered white areas.

The entire lower jaw is white and from here, the colouration stretches across the underside to the genital area; narrowing and expanding some, and extending into lateral flank patches close to the end.