Quick Take
- Sunfish can weigh 4,000 pounds, and their enormous size is exactly why orcas target them. See why size attracts orcas →
- Orcas don't always ram sunfish because they're hungry. Scientists think another behavior may be involved. Discover the real motive →
- Speed and teeth aren't always enough for orcas, which have a surprisingly brutal backup strategy. See orcas' brutal backup plan →
- For all their thick skin, sunfish have one glaring vulnerability that orcas exploit perfectly. Find the sunfish's weak spot →
Orcas are famous for being some pretty aggressive hunters. Their quick speeds and sharp teeth make them extremely dangerous predators. But did you know they also use their robust bodies to slam and disable prey? This YouTube Short by @intelligence4512 shows an orca ramming itself into a sunfish, effectively disabling it.
Sunfish have extremely thick skin and can weigh around 2,000 pounds, making them extremely difficult fish to hunt.
©A-Z Animals
How Orcas Hunt Sunfish
Orcas are some of the most ferocious whales in nature. They are an example of a true apex predator, or an animal that does not have a predator of its own. Because of this, it seems like they feed on practically any living thing in the ocean. Their diet consists primarily of fish, including salmon, mackerel, and tuna, with sunfish occasionally taken as an opportunistic prey item. Some populations feed on mammals like seals and sea lions. Others feed on sharks, seabirds, turtles, and even larger whale species. With such a diverse diet comes a diverse set of hunting strategies. Ramming is one example seen in the video above, but other examples include tail slapping, washing animals off ice with waves, and circling schools of fish. The video above offers a striking glimpse of one of their many terrifying techniques.
Given just how large sunfish are, it might seem strange that an orca would hunt them. However, it’s actually their large size that makes them ideal prey. Sunfish have plenty of meat for the orcas to feed on, are relatively slow and easy to catch, and don’t have a strong defense. To immobilize these massive fish, orcas ram into them. This can stun or injure the fish, making it easier for orcas to tear apart and consume. But ramming isn’t just for feeding. Researchers have observed orcas repeatedly pushing or ramming sunfish even when they don’t immediately feed on them. This behavior may represent social play or provide younger whales with opportunities to practice hunting skills.
