# What Do Orcas Eat?

> What orcas eat: Carnivore, foraging style, and seasonal shifts in All oceans, from polar to tropical.

- **Species:** Orca (*Orcinus orca*)
- **Conservation status:** Data Deficient
- **Diet:** Carnivore
- **Habitat:** All oceans, from polar to tropical
- **Lifespan:** 50–80+ years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 56 km/h (35 mph)
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/orca/what-do-orca-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/orca/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The orca, or killer whale, is the largest member of the dolphin family and an apex predator found in every ocean on Earth. Highly intelligent and social, orcas hunt in coordinated family groups called pods and can weigh up to 6,000 kg (13,000 lb). Wild orcas can live 50 to 80 years or more.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Intelligence and family pods

Orcas are among the most intelligent animals in the ocean. They live in tight family groups called pods, led by the oldest females, and stay with their mothers for life. Different pods have their own dialects of calls, distinct hunting techniques, and even food preferences, a form of culture passed down through generations.

## Help protect the Orca

Even apex ocean predators like orcas are harmed by pollution, prey collapse and disturbance.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/orca/what-do-orca-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.