Orca Coloring Pages

King of the Sea! The Orca!

The Orca is very smart and is the biggest member of the dolphin family. Sitting at the top of the ocean food chain with no natural enemies, the Orca is called the king of the sea.

Big Bodies and Tails (Flukes)!

Male Orcas grow to about 7 to 9 meters long, and females grow to about 5 to 7 meters long. They use their huge bodies to swim smoothly through the water. Also, an Orca's tail (fluke) has no bones, but it is super thick and strong! By moving this tail (fluke) up and down, they can swim fast and jump out of the water.

Smart Brains and Communication!

Orcas are super smart! They work together with their friends to catch big fish, seals, and sometimes even whales. Orcas also talk to their friends by making "clicking" sounds and high-pitched squeaks. It is just like they are having a conversation together!

What Does "Orca" Mean?

In English, the Orca is called "Orca" or "killer whale." People say this name comes from ancient Romans calling the Orca "Orcus," which means "demon of the underworld." Since the Orca is at the very top of the ocean food chain, people long ago might have been scared of it. "Killer whale" means whale killer, which sounds pretty scary!

Where Do They Live?

Orcas live in every ocean in the world. They especially like to live in cold seas. They live in pods and travel together with their families. It is amazing how social they are!

Cool Black and White Bodies!

An Orca's body is pitch black on its back and pure white on its belly. They also have special white patches right above their eyes. These patterns help Orcas sneak up on prey without being seen. When looking up from below, the white belly blends in with the bright sky. When looking down from above, the black back blends in with the dark ocean.

Where Can You Meet Them in Japanese Aquariums?

Right now, there are only three aquariums in Japan where you can meet an Orca.

• Kamogawa Sea World in Chiba Prefecture
• Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium in Aichi Prefecture
• Kobe Suma Sea World in Hyogo Prefecture

The dynamic Orca performance at Kamogawa Sea World in Chiba Prefecture is especially exciting!

How to Choose Colors

The Orca's biggest feature is definitely its black and white contrast. If you use these colors well, you can bring out how cool the Orca looks. Using fewer colors makes it look even more like a real Orca!

• Basic Body Colors: Color the back with a solid black. If you color it strongly with a jet-black crayon or colored pencil, you can show how strong the Orca is.
• Belly Color: Leaving the belly white is just fine! Or you can lightly color it with a little bit of gray.
• White Patch Around the Eye (Eyepatch): Just like the belly, it is good to leave the eyepatch white or color it light gray.

How to Color for a 3D and Shiny Look

An Orca's body is smooth and reflects light. Try coloring while thinking about shadows and light!

• Places in the Shadow: Try coloring places where light does not reach easily, like under the belly, the base of the fins, or under the jaw, with a slightly dark gray. That will make your picture look 3D.
• Places to Make Shiny: For places where light hits, like the middle of the back or the white part of the belly, leave them uncolored or color them very lightly. This gives it a shiny look!

Color the Ocean Background!

What color is the ocean where the Orca is swimming? Imagine it with lots of different colors!

• Ocean Color: If you mix and color with deep blue and green, you can show how deep the ocean is. It is also fun to add white bubbles or water waves.
• Sky Color: You can color the sky light blue or blue and draw white clouds. Coloring a sunset sky with orange or pink is pretty too!

Hints for Enjoying Your Coloring Page!

You can color the Orca coloring page using only black and white, or you can have even more fun by getting creative with the background colors. You can color the Orca with your favorite colors, or draw other sea creatures in the background too!