One of things I have noticed after guiding people from around the world in the ocean, whilst interacting with orca is that their first instinct is to assume that the larger adult male orca are the leaders of the family and the smaller orca are its offspring.  They are usually quite surprised to hear that the smaller orca are actually the matriarchs/ females/mum of the family and those larger animals are her *"little boys"* that will never leave her side for the rest of their lives.

It goes so far that it is believed that the social status of a female will help determine whom her son will actually mate with.  Mum basically sets it up... and then once the *"date"* is over, he will return back to his mum's side...
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<center>[![IMG_6738.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcLtefSQP7dNz6RCvZNYtxSjSYHR2hGNy1y8bE8mRc6Ru/IMG_6738.jpg)](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcLtefSQP7dNz6RCvZNYtxSjSYHR2hGNy1y8bE8mRc6Ru/IMG_6738.jpg)
**An adult male orca has a 6ft|2m dorsal fin that is almost completely vertical**
*Click image to view full size*</center>
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Regardless, of the males' larger size, it is actually the females that have a longer life span, which at times can be twice and even three times the life of a male.  Females are known to reach similar life spans to humans, with one whale known as J2, Granny was believed to be just over 100 years of age at the time of her disappearance a few years ago. 

At the end of the day their social structures are something that becomes addictive for many people whom then turn into researchers dedicating their lives to understanding more about the social lives and dynamics that these apex predators have, which it seems we are currently only scratching the surface.
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<center>[![IMG_6680.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTx97xP4u2SK9AW1VGNjGcS7kDH1KJAGe5e5Gwq2vXQuA/IMG_6680.jpg)](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTx97xP4u2SK9AW1VGNjGcS7kDH1KJAGe5e5Gwq2vXQuA/IMG_6680.jpg)
**A female orca has a smaller dorsal fin that curls back, which is very similar to a dolphin's fin**, *orca are actually the largest member of the dolphin family*
*Click image to view full size*</center>
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