Dossier
sunfish
Coverage of sunfish in the Nexus archive.
- Orcas seen ramming prey so hard it explodes may be playing game
Orcas have been observed ramming giant sunfish so forcefully that they explode, a behavior scientists believe may be a form of play or to assist younger whales in feeding. The action involves one orca holding the fish while another strikes it at high speed, causing it to break apart into pieces.
- Orcas filmed making sunfish explode by ramming them at high speed
Orcas have been filmed ramming sunfish at high speed, causing them to explode into fragments. This behavior, observed in the Gulf of California, may aid juvenile orcas in feeding or involve playful interaction. Researchers suggest the technique helps access the sunfish's gelatinous body mass.