A group of killer whales in the Gulf of California has been captured on video working together to break apart dead sunfish. The process involves one whale grasping the sunfish’s tail in its mouth, known as a clavus, and releasing it right before another whale collides with it at high speed, resulting in the sunfish exploding into pieces.
In a recent study published in the journal Frontiers of Ethology, researchers from the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico analyzed this behavior and speculated on its purpose. Lead author Kathryn Ayres suggested that this behavior could assist younger killer whales in feeding more efficiently or simply be a form of playful interaction, as killer whales are known to play with their food.
The sunfish targeted in these incidents were sharp-tail sunfish, which can reach lengths of up to three meters and weigh two tonnes. The sunfish had already been stripped of its internal organs by the killer whales before the smashing occurred.
While the adult killer whales were responsible for breaking the sunfish into pieces, the younger orcas predominantly consumed the smaller bits, leaving the larger chunk for the adults to focus on.
The behavior was initially documented by Ayres, a scientist with the ocean conservation group Beneath the Waves, in July 2024. Subsequently, a similar event was captured on video in September 2025 by Héctor Franz, a digital creator involved in ecotourism. Co-author Erick Higuera noted that similar behavior had been observed in the region in 2021.
Due to unclear footage, researchers could not confirm if the same killer whales were involved in both incidents. The researchers proposed that the unique structure of the sunfish species’ clavus may explain why it breaks apart upon impact, as this feature is more pronounced compared to other sunfish species.
Orcas have been observed employing similar tactics with other prey to facilitate sharing with their offspring. Marine ecologist Robert Pitman from Oregon State University suggested that this smashing technique may allow killer whales to access the meat without risking tooth damage on the fish’s scales.
Although orcas have been known to engage in playful activities like ramming boats off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, the behavior of smashing prey into pieces had not been documented before. Ayres remarked, “They’re one of the most iconic marine predators in the world, yet they continue to surprise us.”
