Antarctic orca in New Zealand waters?

Abstract

I report on a group of orca (Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758)) near the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, which were a lighter coloration than orca usually seen in these waters. Differences in pigmentation included a light grey caudal peduncle area and a dorsal cape, which has previously only been described for Antarctic orca. The size and shape of the eye patches were not consistent with orca photo-identified in New Zealand. I suggest that this group of orca, although observed in New Zealand waters, were of Antarctic origin. © 1999, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.