Orcas shatter dead sunfish with coordinated ramming in Gulf of California

Researchers have documented a previously unknown cooperative hunting technique among orcas (Orcinus orca) in the Gulf of California. In two separate incidents captured on video in July 2024 and September 2025, a female orca held a dead sharp‑tail sunfish (Masturus lanceolatus) steady with its tail fin while a male orca accelerated and rammed the fish at high speed. The impact fragmented the massive carcass into thousands of pieces, a behavior the scientists have named “ram‑to‑fragment.”

A juvenile member of the pod immediately began feeding on the small fragments, while the adult whales took the larger pieces. The researchers, led by marine biologist Kathryn Ayres of the non‑profit Beneath The Waves, suggest the behavior may serve to make food easier for younger whales or could simply be a form of play, as orcas are known to manipulate their prey. The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Ethology and include observations off the southern coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Co‑author Marianne Nyegaard described the sight as “absolutely gobsmacking,” and other experts noted the technique adds to the growing list of inventive orca feeding strategies.