Orcas smash giant sunfish in Gulf of California, revealing new feeding behavior

Scientists have documented a previously unknown hunting technique used by killer whales in the Gulf of California. In two separate encounters recorded in July 2024 and September 2025, a pod of orcas killed a sharp‑tail sunfish (Masturus lanceolatus) and then employed a coordinated “hold‑and‑ram” maneuver that shattered the carcass into thousands of fragments. The behavior, dubbed “ram‑to‑fragment,” allows larger pieces to be consumed by adults while smaller fragments become accessible to juveniles. Researchers, led by Dr. Kathryn Ayres of the nonprofit Beneath The Waves, suggest the tactic may serve both feeding efficiency and play, noting that orcas often manipulate prey after death. One diver who witnessed the event exclaimed, “Holy sh!t!” The findings were published in Frontiers in Ethology and highlight the adaptability and intelligence of these apex predators.