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It really all depends on the classification of whales. Generally their name is Cetacea (Plural Cetacean) But that also refers to Dolphins/Porpoises. Baleen whales are classified as Balaenoptera (Blue Whales, Humpback Whales ect.) and toothed whales are classified as Odontoceti (Killer Whales, Narwhal Whales ect.) However, Odontoceti can still refer to Dolphins and Porpoises. Their more specific breed of whale has to be researched individually.

So, if you want the scientific name for a Sei whale, for example, it's, "Balaenoptera Borealis" There is no real need to say Cetacean if it's been established you're talking about whales. But, if you have to then say, "Cetacean Balaenoptera Borealis."

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13y ago
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9y ago

Killer Whales would appear to be able to identify each other by a particular/unique whistle sound that they make. This is the nearest that we can come to giving a killer whale an actual name - unless you mean what is the Latin/Scientific name of the species which is Orcinus orca.

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8y ago

The scientific name is Orcinus orca.

The genus name Orcinus means "of the kingdom of the dead" or "belonging to Orcus". Orcus was a Roman god of the underworld.

Ancient Romans originally called the animals orca. Orca possibly came from a Greek word meaning a whale species (among other things).

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16y ago

The killer Whale (Orca) is actually not a whale (neither toothed or Baleen) but is a giant dolphin.

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14y ago

The killer whale's common name is the orca.

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15y ago

An Orca

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Q: What does the killer whale scientific name mean?
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Related questions

What is the killer whales standard name?

A killer whale's scientific name is and Orca


What is the species for the killer whale?

The scientific name is Orcinus Orca.


Is a killer whale an orca?

Yes they are the same killer whale is another name for Orca's. :)


Scientific name for whale?

Whales belong to the order Cetacea. Depending on the whale's species, it can have a different scientific name, including Balaenoptera, Balaena, and Eschrichtius. While a bowhead whale has the scientific name of Balaena mysticetus, the blue whale's scientific name is Balaenoptera musculus. Similarly, the humpback, killer, and beluga whales will have different scientific whales.


How did orcas get the name killer whale?

Orcas got their reputation of 'Killer Whale' when fishermen first discovered them attacking and hunting whales. They then named them 'Whale killers' which later switched to their popular nickname


What is the scientific name for an ancient killer whale that was recently discovered?

A recent discovery in Sweden was mad on July 14, 2010. An ancient killer whale named Balaena.


What is the scientific classification of a Killer whale?

The Killer whale (Orcinus orca) is the toothed whale that belongs to the oceanic dolphin family. They are an apex predator that preys upon Great white sharks as well as Polar bears. NOTHING preys on them, except humans.See the related link below for more info:


What is killer whales known as?

A killer whale is also known asOrca, grampus, blackfish and often referred to as wolves of the seaThe killer whales scientific name is orcinus orca :)


What is the killer whale also known as?

Orca


How do they get the name killer whale?

The killer whale is surprisingly not a whale that Is what is often misleading about them. The killer whale is actually a species of dolphin in the oceanic dolphin family delphinidae the reason it got its name is because people saw the dolphin hunting and killing whales at first the killer whale was called the killer of whales but then it eventually got shortened to killer whale


Did Killer Whales get there name by being mean and killing people?

No, they were originally called whale killers, as they were obseved by fishermen killing many other whale species. Over the course of many years, it has changed to killer whale. Another name for the killer whale is "Orca".


What is the name of an orca female?

The name of a female orca or killer whale is a cow. The name of a male killer whale is a bull and the name of a baby killer whale is a calf!