AnAge entry for Orcinus orca
Classification (HAGRID: 01947)
- Taxonomy
-
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
Order: Cetacea (Taxon entry)
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Orcinus
- Species
- Orcinus orca
- Common name
- Killer whale
- Synonyms
- Orca ater, Orca capensis, Orcinus glacialis, Delphinus gladiator, Orcinus nanus, Orca rectipinna, Delphinus orca
Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
- IMR
- Not yet available
- MRDT
- 14 years
- Maximum longevity
- 90 years (wild)
- Source
- ref. 784
- Sample size
- Medium
- Data quality
- Acceptable
- Observations
Reproductive senescence has been reported in this species and no female over the age of 48 has been observed to give birth. Maximum longevity in the wild has been estimated to be around 90 years and the MRDT was calculated to be about 14 for females [0784]. Anecdotal evidence, which could be true, suggests these animals may live up to 100 years. One individual J2 (also known as Granny) was thought to be 105 when she died. In captivity, one wild born animal was still alive at about 37 years of age [0671].
Life history traits (averages)
- No information is available on life history. Please contact us if you wish to suggest or contribute data.
Metabolism
- Typical body temperature
- 309ºK or 36.0ºC or 96.8ºF
- Basal metabolic rate
- Not yet available
References
- [1268] Croft et al. (2017), Reproductive Conflict and the Evolution of Menopause in Killer Whales (PubMed)
- [1159] Callaway (2016), Scientists clash over lifespan of captive killer whales (PubMed)
- [1158] Robeck et al. (2015), Comparisons of life-history parameters between free-ranging and captive killer whale (Orcinus orca) populations for application toward species management (PubMed)
- [1223] Brent et al. (2015), Ecological knowledge, leadership, and the evolution of menopause in killer whales (PubMed)
- [1150] Jones et al. (2014), Diversity of ageing across the tree of life (PubMed)
- [1143] Nussey et al. (2013), Senescence in natural populations of animals: widespread evidence and its implications for bio-gerontology (PubMed)
- [1092] Foster et al. (2012), Adaptive prolonged postreproductive life span in killer whales (PubMed)
- [0914] Ward et al. (2009), The role of menopause and reproductive senescence in a long-lived social mammal (PubMed)
- [0784] Foote (2008), Mortality rate acceleration and post-reproductive lifespan in matrilineal whale species (PubMed)
- [0963] McAuliffe and Whitehead (2005), Eusociality, menopause and information in matrilineal whales (PubMed)
- [0671] Richard Weigl (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World
- [0443] Ronald Nowak (2003), Walker's Marine Mammals of the World
- [0610] Ernest (2003), Life history characteristics of placental non-volant mammals
- [0434] Ronald Nowak (1999), Walker's Mammals of the World
- [0538] Don Wilson and Sue Ruff (1999), The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals
- [0455] Virginia Hayssen et al. (1993), Asdell's Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species-Specific Data
- [1065] Kastings et al. (1989), Thermoregulation in beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) and killer (Orcinus orca) whales
- [0573] David Macdonald (1985), The Encyclopedia of Mammals
External Resources
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- ITIS 180469
- Animal Diversity Web
- ADW account
- Encyclopaedia of Life
- Search EOL
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Taxonomy ID 9733
- Entrez
- Search all databases
- Ageing Literature
- Search Google Scholar or Search PubMed
- Images
- Google Image search
- Internet
- Search Google