sunfish
Coverage of sunfish in the Nexus archive.
- How to eat a 2,000-pound fish? These orcas choose to pulverize it
A group of orcas off Baja California uses a brutal maneuver to pulverize 2,000-pound sunfish. This method is described as an unusual hunting tactic for targeting the giant fish.
- Orcas filmed smashing sunfish to smithereens
Orcas in the Gulf of California have been filmed teaming up to smash dead sunfish to pieces. Researchers in a new study are speculating on the reasons behind this behavior.
- Video: Scientists watch orcas ram a sunfish so hard it explodes
Marine biologists in Baja California recorded orcas ramming a sunfish so forcefully that it exploded. Scientists suggest the behavior might have a purpose or could be for entertainment.
- 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 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.