Orcas filmed smashing giant sunfish into thousands of pieces
Researchers have documented a unique hunting behavior where orcas coordinate to smash giant sunfish into pieces before consuming them. This behavior, observed in the Gulf of California, suggests complex social learning or play among the predators.
Why it matters
Documenting new predatory behaviors in apex marine species provides critical insights into ocean ecology and the intelligence of marine mammals.
Orcas are among the ocean's most intelligent and formidable predators. They have been seen targeting many kinds of animals, including whales larger than themselves, and they rely on a remarkable range of coordinated hunting methods. Now, researchers in the Gulf of California have documented a behavior that has never been formally described before.
"We document how one orca holds the sunfish and lets go just before another orca hits it at high speed, causing the tissue to break apart into thousands of pieces," said first author of the Frontiers in Ethology article, Dr. Kathryn Ayres, a scientist at Beneath The Waves, a non-profit organization promoting ocean health. "We think this may help younger orcas feed more easily or it could also just be for fun. Orcas are known for playing with their food."
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