A group of Orcas fight ram sunfish until they explode

There have been many stories in recent years about orcas speedboats-and sometimes drown them. Scientists believe that this may be a form of learned culture that is passed down from generation to generation. Now we have new examples: orcas in the Gulf of California were photographed together with ram sunfish with such force that the carcasses exploded into small pieces. Although orcas are known to use force to extract prey from prey, this is different, according to a new paper published in the journal Frontiers in Ethology.

“We think this could help the young orcas eat more easily, or it could be fun,” said co-author Kathryn Ayres of Beneath The Waves, a non-profit organization that promotes ocean health. “Orcas are known to play with their food.”

Orcas engage in hunting strategies that may involve attacking or killing prey – sometimes eating prey, sometimes not – so this behavior can be described as socializing, playing, or acting as a social learning process. Orcas have been seen attacking whale sharks as one orca grabs the prey. Other cooperative practices include hand-herding rays, blocking escape routes for white sharks, and deliberately creating waves to knock penguins off the ice.

Read the full article

Comments

Source link