Orcas ram dead sunfish in Gulf, causing explosion

Scientists have documented a novel and explosive hunting behavior in orcas, where the marine mammals ram dead sunfish with such force that the fish burst into fragments. The behavior, observed in the Gulf of California, appears to serve dual purposes: breaking down large prey for easier consumption by juveniles and potentially functioning as a form of play or social learning.

The first recorded instance occurred in July 2024 off the coast of San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. A female orca held a dead sunfish by its tail fin while a male orca lined up and charged at it, releasing the fish just before impact. The collision produced an audible sound as the carcass exploded into pieces. A juvenile orca was then seen feeding on the smaller fragments while adults consumed the larger remains. A second, similar event was captured in September 2025 in the same region, this time involving two adult females, one holding the sunfish and the other ramming it.

Researchers, including marine biologist Kathryn Ayres of the nonprofit Beneath The Waves, detailed the observations in a new paper published in the journal Frontiers in Ethology. They propose the "ram-to-fragment" behavior may have multiple...