AnAge entry for Orcinus orca

Classification (HAGRID: 02295)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Cetacea (Taxon entry)
                Family: Delphinidae (Taxon entry)
                    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)

Female sexual maturity
3,780 days
Male sexual maturity
4,930 days
Gestation
435 days
Weaning
471 days
Litter size
1 (viviparous)
Litters per year
0.2
Inter-litter interval
1,096 days
Weight at birth
180,000 g
Weight at weaning
Adult weight
3,987,500 g
Postnatal growth rate

Metabolism

Typical body temperature
309ºK or 36.0ºC or 96.8ºF
Basal metabolic rate
Not yet available

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 180469
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 9733
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
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Images
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Internet
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