Killer whales have been filmed ramming large fish so hard they exploded – before gorging on the remains.
The footage shows one orca holding a sunfish just under the surface of the sea, before a larger orca swims at speed from below. The impact smashes the sunfish’s body into tiny fragments, which the orcas then feed on.
Researchers say the behaviour may be a new way for the animals to feed – or could be a new way for orca families to interact.
The video (which contains strong language) was captured by Dr Kathryn Ayres, who works for Beneath the Waves, an organisation promoting ocean health
There are five species of sunfish, but both this video – captured in the Gulf of California in July 2024 – and another taken in September 2025 show the orcas attacking only one: the sharp-tail sunfish. This oval-shaped sunfish is one of the largest bony fish in the sea and can grow up to 3.5m (11.5ft) in length.
