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Watch orcas ram a sunfish so hard it explodes
“We think this may help younger orcas feed more easily, or it could also just be for fun.”
TL;DR
- Orcas in the Gulf of California were filmed using a 'ram-to-fragment' strategy on sunfish.
- This behavior involves ramming the sunfish carcass with high force, causing it to explode into fragments.
- The behavior is thought to be a form of social learning, potentially helping younger orcas feed or simply being a form of play.
- This technique differs from typical orca hunting, as the sunfish were already dead and their viscera removed, suggesting it's a processing method.
- The strategy might be specific to the sharp-tail sunfish, possibly due to its structural response to impact and its tail's suitability for gripping.