Watch orcas ram a sunfish so hard it explodes

Off the coast of the Gulf of California, orcas have been filmed teaming up to ram sunfish with such force that their carcasses shatter into fragments, Ars Technica reports. The coordinated behavior is detailed in a new paper published in Frontiers in Ethology. Researchers, including Kathryn Ayres of the nonprofit Beneath The Waves, suggest the ramming could serve multiple purposes: it may help younger orcas learn to hunt, or it could be a form of play and social practice. The behavior fits into what scientists already know about orcas—they're sophisticated hunters with cooperative strategies and a reputation for playing with their prey.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton