A LITTLE WILDLIFE PERSPECTIVE
How big is an orca?
Compare your height to an orca.
An orca’s size depends on its population and sex. This comparison shows an illustrative adult male measuring 7 m (23 ft) from nose to tail.
A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE
Orca
next to the average.
Average U.S. adults, side by side.
Side view · example 7 m long adult male
- Average man (U.S.)5 ft 8.9 in
- Orca11 ft 5.3 in
- Average woman (U.S.)5 ft 3.5 in
How do you measure up?
Enter your height to stand beside an orca.
Side by side
- Orca11 ft 5.3 in
- Your placeAdd your height
The animal is an example adult in the pose shown. Its full outline is scaled to 348.7 cm vertically. Side view · example 7 m long adult male. Shoulder height and body length are explained below.
Where do you stand?
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GET TO KNOW THE ANIMAL
Small facts. Big discoveries.
Orca · Orcinus orca
Also called killer whales, orcas live in social groups called pods. Adult males develop especially tall dorsal fins, giving them a distinctive outline.
Different orca populations learn different hunting traditions. Some specialize in fish, while others hunt marine mammals. Calls passed between generations help members of a group stay in contact.
- Orcas use clicks, whistles, and pulsed calls underwater.
- They are found in every ocean, including tropical waters.
How big do adults get?
- Male
- Larger dorsal fins and flippers
- Female
- Smaller dorsal fins and flippers
The 7 m example is a selected illustration scale, not a worldwide average. The ruler includes the tall dorsal fin and the lowest flipper in this side view.
Height, length, or weight?
Standing height runs from the ground to the top of the animal. Shoulder height stops at the top of the shoulders. Length runs along the body; it is not how tall an animal stands. Weight tells us how heavy it is.
Explore the science: NOAA Fisheries ↗