Marine biologists documented the never-before-confirmed behavior among orcas living in the Southern Gulf of California.
Orcas (Orcinus orca) might be even more ferocious predators than we give them credit for. Scientists have discovered orcas that have learned to hunt whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), the largest fish in the world.
Marine biologists documented the never-before-confirmed behavior among orcas living in the Southern Gulf of California, the body of water between the state and country of Mexico. They found evidence of several whale shark attacks that occurred over a six-year-span—most of which involved one particular male orca known as Moctezuma. While much is still unknown about the phenomenon, the findings suggest these killer whales may have acquired and passed on unique knowledge that allowed them to take down their hefty prey.
Despite their friendly reputation from TV shows and movies, orcas are well known to be apex predators wherever they live, hunting a wide variety of fish, rays, and marine mammals, including other dolphins. Orcas have also been recorded hunting various kinds of sharks, including the great white shark, but not whale sharks—an animal that would pose a considerable challenge for any predator. While orcas are the biggest living members of the dolphin family, they’re still far outsized by the whale shark. The average adult orca is around 20-feet-long (6 meters) and weighs six tons, while the average whale shark may extend as long as 45 feet (13.
