191970Edited by Drew.110012734layer_information_pageund1449064505146167500000146167500021<p>Adult male killer whales may reach a length of 9 m, about 25% larger than adult females, and have a very tall, triangular and erect dorsal fin, which is sometimes tilted forwards. Immatures and adult females both have a smaller, sickle-shaped dorsal fin and cannot readily be distinguished from one another. When the animal surfaces, the grey saddle shows up over the black back, behind the dorsal fin. It has a conical-shaped black head, with a distinctive white oval patch above and behind the eye, an indistinct beak, white throat and large paddle-shaped flippers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> full_html<p>Adult male killer whales may reach a length of 9 m, about 25% larger than adult females, and have a very tall, triangular and erect dorsal fin, which is sometimes tilted forwards. Immatures and adult females both have a smaller, sickle-shaped dorsal fin and cannot readily be distinguished from one another. When the animal surfaces, the grey saddle shows up over the black back, behind the dorsal fin. It has a conical-shaped black head, with a distinctive white oval patch above and behind the eye, an indistinct beak, white throat and large paddle-shaped flippers.</p> <p> </p> 36818<p>Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Scottish waters over the last 25 years. Of these 11 are regularly sighted, the remaining 12 are considered to be vagrants or rare visitors.</p> <p>Cetaceans are very mobile and can range widely with some undertaking large scale seasonal migrations often leaving Scottish waters in the process. Other species are more localised in their distribution. The greatest diversity of species is found off the continental shelf in waters to the north and west of Scotland.</p> full_html<p>Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Scottish waters over the last 25 years. Of these 11 are regularly sighted, the remaining 12 are considered to be vagrants or rare visitors.</p> <p>Cetaceans are very mobile and can range widely with some undertaking large scale seasonal migrations often leaving Scottish waters in the process. Other species are more localised in their distribution. The greatest diversity of species is found off the continental shelf in waters to the north and west of Scotland.</p> 51901425350815082516851905212875sioc:Itemfoaf:Documentdc:datedc:createdxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601dc:modifiedxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601content:encodedsioc:has_creatorrelfoaf:namesioc:num_repliesxsd:integersioc:last_activity_datexsd:dateTimedate_iso8601https://marine.gov.scot/?q=information/killer-whales074361919712734needs_reviewpublished21146167500011146167500074361919712734needs_reviewpublished21146167500011146167500074361919712734needs_reviewpublished211461675000111461675000