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."
Orcas Shatter Sunfish at High Speed
Sunfish can exceed three meters in length and weigh as much as 2,000 kg. Although they travel through different levels of the ocean, they often rise to the surface to rest, regulate their body temperature, or have parasites removed. That behavior leaves them exposed to predators.
In the Gulf of California, sunfish are among the animals most frequently hunted and eaten by orcas. The newly reported behavior was recorded during two separate events that took place slightly more than a year apart.
