Orcas in the Gulf of California have been observed collaborating to break apart dead sunfish. In this behavior, one orca seizes the fish’s tail while another orca charges at high speed, causing the fish to explode into fragments. A recent study published in the journal Frontiers of Ethology by researchers from the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Mexico sheds light on this behavior, suggesting it may aid younger orcas in feeding more efficiently or simply be a form of playful interaction.
The targeted prey in these instances was a sharp-tail sunfish, a species that can reach lengths of up to three meters and weigh two tonnes. Prior to the smashing, the orcas had already removed the fish’s internal organs. While the adult orcas initiated the smashing, the young orcas accompanying them predominantly consumed the resulting pieces, while the adults focused on the larger remaining chunk.
The behavior was initially documented in a video captured by Kathryn Ayres, a scientist from the ocean conservation group Beneath the Waves, in July 2024. Subsequently, another similar incident was filmed in September 2025 by Héctor Franz, a digital creator in ecotourism. Erick Higuera, a co-author of the study, mentioned observing comparable behavior in the region in 2021.
Although the researchers couldn’t confirm if the same orcas were involved in all incidents due to unclear footage, they proposed that the unique structural characteristics of the sunfish species might explain the fragmentation upon impact. The researchers highlighted the pronounced clavus of this particular sunfish species, which makes it easier to hold steady for smashing compared to other species.
This behavior of orcas breaking up sunfish is unprecedented, as other sunfish species do not exhibit such fragmentation upon impact. The researchers theorize this behavior could be a species-specific response due to the unique features of the sunfish. Orcas have previously been observed tearing prey into smaller pieces for their young, and marine ecologist Robert Pitman suggested that this smashing technique may allow orcas to access the meat without damaging their teeth on the fish’s scales.
While orcas have been known to exhibit playful behaviors like ramming boats off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, the specific behavior of ramming prey to break it apart is a novel observation. Kathryn Ayres expressed the ongoing surprises and mysteries surrounding the behaviors of these iconic marine predators.