Which dolphin species has the longest known lifespan among dolphins?

The dolphin species with the longest known lifespan is the killer whale, or orca. Although its name includes “whale,” the killer whale is the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family, Delphinidae.

Killer whales have strongly sex-dependent lifespans. Males commonly live around 30 years and may reach 50 or 60, while females typically live about 50 years and can survive to at least 90. The famous female known as Granny, or J2, was estimated to have lived for more than 90 years, although exact ages in wild whales are difficult to prove.

This longevity is linked to the species’ complex social life. Older females can guide pods toward prey and help younger relatives survive, a pattern often called the grandmother effect. Killer whales also experience menopause, an unusual trait shared by only a small number of mammals.

A common mix-up is assuming that “whale” automatically excludes the species from the dolphin family. Taxonomically, orcas are dolphins; their great size and whale-like common name do not change that classification.