Cetaceans - Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)
Though killer whales, also called orcas, are considered whales by most people, they are actually members of the Delphinidae (dolphin) family. To some, killer whales look exactly alike however they can be distinguished from one another by the shape and size of their dorsal fins, the distinctive grayish-white saddle patches behind their dorsal fins, as well as distinctive scars, nicks and marks on their dorsal fins. NMML researchers use photos of thier dorsal fins to identify individuals within a pod.
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