Orcas in the Gulf of California have been captured on video collaborating to break apart deceased sunfish.
In this process, one orca seizes the fish’s blunt tail (referred to as the clavus) in its mouth and releases it just as another orca charges in at high velocity, resulting in a shower of fish fragments.
A new study published this week in the journal Frontiers of Ethology by researchers from the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Mexico examines this behavior and offers theories on its purpose.
Lead author Kathryn Ayres speculated, “We believe this might assist younger orcas in feeding more efficiently, or it could simply be for enjoyment,” emphasizing that orcas are known to interact playfully with their food.
The prey in question was a sharp-tail sunfish, which can reach lengths of up to three meters and weigh as much as two tonnes. The fish was already deceased, with its internal organs removed by the orcas prior to the ramming action.
Stills from a video documenting the ‘hold-to-ram’ behavior observed in orcas in the Gulf of California. (Kathryn Ayres)
While the adult orcas initiated the smashing, the smaller orcas consumed most of the resulting pieces, while the adults focused on the remaining larger fragments that had not been broken apart.
The behavior was first recorded by Ayres, a scientist affiliated with the U.S.-based ocean conservation organization Beneath the Waves, in July 2024. A similar occurrence was filmed in September 2025 in the same area by Héctor Franz, a digital content creator involved in ecotourism. Erick Higuera, co-author of the study and executive director of Orcas México, mentioned to Smithsonian magazine that he had observed similar behavior in that region back in 2021.
The researchers are uncertain whether the orcas involved in the incidents were the same, as the video footage did not provide clear identification.
Since they have never seen other sunfish disintegrate in such a manner from strong impacts, the researchers proposed this could represent a “species-specific structural response.” They noted that this species’ clavus is more pronounced compared to other sunfish types, making it simpler to grip and hold steady for smashing.
Recently, a pod of young orcas rammed two boats off the coast of Portugal, resulting in one of the vessels sinking. Experts believe this behavior was playful, although it startled those on board.
Orcas have previously been documented tearing apart various types of prey into smaller portions for their young.
Robert Pitman, a marine ecologist from Oregon State University, told the New York Times that this ramming technique might enable them to access the meat without damaging their teeth on the fish’s scales.
Reports indicate that orcas have also been seen ramming boats off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, which scientists hypothesize may be a form of play. However, the act of ramming prey to break it apart had not been previously observed.
“They are among the most recognizable marine predators globally, yet they continue to astonish us,” Ayres remarked.
