- Lifespan
- 50–90 years in the wild; females typically live longer than males
- Size & Weight
- Males 7–8 m long, females 6–7 m long; males weigh 5,000–6,000 kg, females 3,000–4,000 kg
- Habitat
- Cold and temperate ocean waters, including the North Atlantic, preferring coastal and offshore regions with rich fish and marine mammal populations.
- UK Distribution
- Observed around UK coasts, particularly in Scottish waters, the North Sea, and off the west coast of Scotland; non-resident but increasingly recorded, with sightings more frequent in summer months.
- Diet
- Apex predator feeding on fish (primarily herring and salmon) and marine mammals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and other cetaceans; diet varies by population.
- Prey
- Herring, salmon, seals (grey and harbour seals), dolphins, porpoises, and occasionally larger cetaceans
- Predators
- No natural predators in UK waters as an adult; calves may rarely be vulnerable to large sharks in warmer waters (not applicable to UK)
- Mating Season
- Year-round, with peaks varying by population; no fixed UK breeding season
- Breeding
- Single calf born after 17-month gestation; calves remain with mothers for life; females may have 5–6 offspring over their lifetime
- Behaviour
- Highly intelligent, social predators living in stable matriarchal family groups (pods) with complex vocalizations and hunting strategies. Different populations exhibit distinct dialects and prey preferences. They are known for coordinated cooperative hunting and teaching of hunting techniques across generations.