Researchers have documented an unusual scene in the Gulf of California: orcas working together to smash dead sunfish into pieces. The behavior was captured on video and is the focus of a new study looking at how the animals handle the large carcasses.
According to the report, one orca grabs the sunfish by its short tail section, known as the clavus, and releases at just the right moment as part of the maneuver. The result is that the dead fish is broken apart, suggesting the whales are using a coordinated technique rather than simply pushing the carcass around.
The study does not present a definitive answer for why the orcas do this, but researchers suggest there may be practical reasons. Breaking a large sunfish into smaller sections could make it easier to eat, share, or manage in the water, especially if the body is awkward to handle whole.
The footage adds to growing evidence that orcas can show highly flexible and specialized behavior depending on where they live and what prey they encounter. In this case, the Gulf of California observations offer another example of how these marine predators may adapt their actions to the shape and challenges of a particular food source.
