Beneath the Waves
Coverage of Beneath the Waves in the Nexus archive.
- Watch an orca ram a sunfish so hard that the fish explodes
Researchers documented orcas using collaborative ramming behavior to kill and fragment sharptail sunfish in the Mexican Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California. The high-speed attacks, observed in 2024 and 2025, involved one orca restraining the fish while another struck it forcefully, causing it to explode. The behavior, previously unrecorded, may serve as a feeding strategy or play.
- Killer whales: Orcas blow fish to bits 'for fun', researchers say
Researchers observed killer whales blowing a dead sunfish to bits in the Gulf of California, possibly for play or to break it into smaller pieces. The behavior, documented in 2024 and 2025, highlights orca intelligence and social dynamics, with experts suggesting it may mirror human social rituals around food sharing.
- 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.