Orcas shatter giant sunfish in coordinated attacks off California and Mexico

Marine biologists recorded unprecedented behavior by orcas in the California Bay region and off Baja California Sur, Mexico. In July 2024 and again in September, Dr. Kathryn Ayres and her team captured video of two orcas working together to strike a giant sunfish (Masturus lanceolatus). One orca held the fish by its tail while the second rammed it at high speed, causing the fish, which can reach up to three metres in length and weigh around 1.8‑2 tonnes, to explode into fragments. The juveniles then fed on the smaller pieces while adults consumed larger chunks.

The coordinated strikes have not been described in scientific literature before. Researchers suggest the behavior could be a specialized feeding technique that makes large prey more manageable or a social activity that strengthens group bonds. The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Ethology, highlighting a new aspect of orca hunting strategies across different oceanic regions.