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A group of killer whales have been documented blowing a sunfish to bits in an unusual underwater escapade offering never-before-seen insights into orca behaviour, according to research released on Thursday.
Video released by the US-based NGO Beneath The Waves shows one orca holding the tail of a sunfish, with its fellow whale then charging with full force into the rotund mola, which explodes into pieces.
The sunfish is already dead — this isn’t an elaborate murder ritual.
Instead, it might be an attempt to turn the fish into smaller bite-sized chunks, researcher Kathryn Ayres said.