Talk:Orca

Two new species identified

• What I think should be changed (format using {{textdiff}}):

  −

  The orca (Orcinus orca)

  +

  The orca (Orcinus orca, O. rectipinnus, and O. ater)

−

The only extant species in the genus Orcinus, it is recognizable

+

The three extant species in the genus Orcinus, they are recognizable

−

A cosmopolitan species, it inhabits a wide range of marine environments, from Arctic to Antarctic regions to tropical seas.

+

While Orcinus orca is a cosmopolitan species, inhabiting a wide range of marine environments, from Arctic to Antarctic regions to tropical seas, both O. rectipinnus and O. ater are only found in the North Pacific.

More edits are also needed because it is no longer just 1 species.

• Why it should be changed: Two new species of Orca have been identified in the North Pacific, Bigg's killer whale (Orcinus rectipinnus), and the resident killer whale (Orcinus ater).
• References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

CaitlinMK12 (talk) 20:48, 10 July 2025 (UTC)

References

 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Dahawk04 (talk) 21:56, 10 July 2025 (UTC)

@Dahawk04 and CaitlinMK12: It looks like the OP had forgotten to use the {{textdiff}} template properly and had just wrapped the old and new text in curly braces, resulting in template redlinks. I've tried to fix this, but if I've misunderstood something, let me know ASAP. Duckmather (talk) 03:22, 11 July 2025 (UTC)

Looks like you did fine. ASM's MDD reflects the update in status to full species for rectipinnus and ater, so I suggest making the change as suggested. - UtherSRG (talk) 11:01, 11 July 2025 (UTC)

However, this will also require additional changes in other sections of the article. - UtherSRG (talk) 11:21, 11 July 2025 (UTC)

I'm not sure that they've been accepted completely as new species. Last I checked they were listed as subspecies? The Morrison Man (talk) 19:50, 11 July 2025 (UTC)

With ASM's MDD accepting them as species, this more than exceeds WP:NSPECIES and falls within the standards set by WP:Mammals. - UtherSRG (talk) 00:04, 12 July 2025 (UTC)

This study is already mentioned and the article mentions "The Society for Marine Mammalogy declined to recognize the two species, citing uncertainty as to whether the types constituted unique species or subspecies. "Pending a more complete global review and revision", the Society provisionally recognized them as subspecies Orcinus orca ater and O. o. rectipinnus, with O. o. orca as the nominate subspecies." They are most certainly NOT considered to be separate species currently by ASM. LittleJerry (talk) 23:19, 16 July 2025 (UTC)

@LittleJerry: What about this and this makes you think the ASM does not accept them as species? - UtherSRG (talk) 14:05, 17 July 2025 (UTC)

i meant the Society for Marine Mammals. LittleJerry (talk) 17:58, 17 July 2025 (UTC)

Fair. Though I note the dissenting opinion on SMM's list regarding their use of these taxa as subspecies: One member (RLB) does not agree with the practice of the Committee to make subspecies out of newly described species if they are not accepted by 2/3 of the group. These species were properly described [and] should stand as new species until they are reviewed by the next reviser of the species or species within these genera (Orcinus and Delphinus). The Committee has no official capacity to create new taxa as they have done now with Orcinus and Delphinus. - SMM overstepped their own bounds by deeming them subspecies. - UtherSRG (talk) 18:08, 17 July 2025 (UTC)

Regardless I think we should wait for them, as well as for it to catch on in the scientific literature. The suggested division is way too awkward and hopefully there'll be a global review as the SMM suggests. LittleJerry (talk) 18:32, 17 July 2025 (UTC)

There is space to add into the lead a sentence about the types and proposed species, which could serve for the moment. CMD (talk) 04:02, 18 July 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 29 August 2025

Change mean to main, it's in the characteristics section. Pootydootilytoot (talk) 13:03, 29 August 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: It means "mean" as in average. CMD (talk) 13:05, 29 August 2025 (UTC)

Killer whale is preferred name

killer whale is still the preferred name in the scientific community. This article pretends orca is the preferred name. Amongst experts, it is not. A simple review of the scientific literature will confirm this. 2601:603:4F83:8F00:2006:74FE:242F:9209 (talk) 21:40, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

Says who? - FlightTime (open channel) 21:41, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

Search the peer-reviewed literature for "Orcinus orca" and see what you come up with. The prevalence of 'killer whale' dwarfs the usage of 'orca'. 2601:603:4F83:8F00:2006:74FE:242F:9209 (talk) 21:45, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

It's your argument, you want it changed, you provide the "Who", see WP:ONUS. - FlightTime (open channel) 21:49, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

I'm not looking to edit, I'm just letting you know it's difficult to take this entry seriously if you don't even use the nomenclature preferred in the scientific community and in policy making (eg, Southern Resident killer whales are listed under the Endangered Species act, not Southern Resident orcas). As far as usage by experts, Jared Towers, Brad Hansen, Michael Bigg, Deborah Giles, Ingrid Visser, Dave Elifrit, etc etc etc publish using killer whale. I don't care what term you use, they're interchangeable, but it's bullshit acting like 'orca' is universally preferred. 2601:603:4F83:8F00:2006:74FE:242F:9209 (talk) 22:02, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

The name of the article was changed to Orca roughly 3.5 years ago because it was clear that common usage had changed, which per WP:COMMONNAME is the right course to take. Though the experts and scientific community might still prefer killer whale, Wikipedia is intended for general audiences and thus follows the most used/commonly recognisable name. The Morrison Man (talk) 22:16, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

Error in the page

unclosed <ref> tag ~2026-14834-04 (talk) 19:13, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

Fixed with Special:Diff/1342398801. Next time, just edit. Zefr (talk) 19:26, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 6 May 2026

Orcas are more accurately the largest member of the dolphin family, not toothed whales. ~2026-27362-33 (talk) 05:12, 6 May 2026 (UTC)

 Not done Because oceanic dolphins are a specific family of toothed whales. That's like saying the domestic cat is a cat and not a felid. Mr Fink (talk) 05:17, 6 May 2026 (UTC)