Image Gallery: Russia's Beautiful Killer Whales

White Orca

Iceberg and his family group off the Commander Islands.

(Image credit: © Far East Russia Orca Project)


A mature all-white male orca, the only one of its kind known, has been spotted in the North Pacific off the east coast of Russia, scientists announced Monday (April 23). After seeing its towering white dorsal fin breaking through the water's surface, the team named the distinctive beast "Iceberg." The researchers first spotted the mature killer whale with his pod of 13 relatives (shown here) in August 2010 in waters around the Commander Islands. [Read full story about Iceberg]

Iceberg & Brother

Iceberg swimming beside another male killer whale, possibly his brother.

(Image credit: © Far East Russia Orca Project)

Iceberg swimming beside another male killer whale, possibly his brother.

Albino Orca

Iceberg appears very healthy, researchers say.

(Image credit: © Far East Russia Orca Project)

Iceberg, a mature male estimated to be a ripe old 16 years, is apparently very healthy, researchers say.

Baby Orca!

A young orca jumping from the water against the volcanic backdrop of Avacha Gulf, Kamchatka.

(Image credit: © Far East Russia Orca Project)

A young orca jumping from the water against the volcanic backdrop of Avacha Gulf, Kamchatka.

ID'ing Dorsal Fins

Researchers studying orcas off the east coast of Russia.

(Image credit: © Far East Russia Orca Project)

Researchers with the Far East Russia Orca Project have been studying orcas for more than a decade. Photographing the dorsal fin of orcas allows scientists to identify the individuals.

Iceberg or Dorsal Fin?

Iceberg's dorsal fin extends nearly 6.6 feet (2 meters) high, a sight that led to the orca's name.

(Image credit: © Far East Russia Orca Project)

Iceberg's dorsal fin extends nearly 6.6 feet (2 meters) high, a sight that led to the orca's name.

Orca Dialects

Here, FEROP (Far East Russia Orca Project) scientists try to record the sounds of the killer whales.

(Image credit: © Far East Russia Orca Project)

Here, FEROP (Far East Russia Orca Project) scientists try to record the sounds of the killer whales.

Jeanna Bryner
Live Science Editor-in-Chief

Jeanna served as editor-in-chief of Live Science. Previously, she was an assistant editor at Scholastic's Science World magazine. Jeanna has an English degree from Salisbury University, a master's degree in biogeochemistry and environmental sciences from the University of Maryland, and a graduate science journalism degree from New York University. She has worked as a biologist in Florida, where she monitored wetlands and did field surveys for endangered species. She also received an ocean sciences journalism fellowship from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.