Killer whales feeding in the Gulf of California have developed a new hunting strategy. These animals attack whale sharks (Rhincodontyps), the largest fish in the world. Scientists in Mexico and the United States have recorded new behavior in marine mammals.
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) belong to the dolphin family (Delphinidae). They are found in both the warm tropical waters and the icy waters around Antarctica. There are different ecotypes of killer whales that differ genetically, morphologically and ecologically. These animals feed on various marine creatures – fish, turtles, seals, penguins and whales. Scientists have discovered that orcas in the Gulf of California have developed a new hunting strategy. These animals attack whale sharks (Rhincodon Typs), the largest fish in the world.
New hunting strategy
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world and can reach up to 18 meters in length. When they are young, they feed in the waters of the Gulf of California. At this stage of life, they are more vulnerable to predator attacks. And the orcas began to hunt such juveniles.
“We have observed a new killing strategy in killer whales,” said Jesus Rivas, a marine biologist and one of the authors of the article published on Friday, November 29, in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. – During the attack, all members of the king work together to hit the whale shark so that it falls over. In this position, the whale enters a state of tonic immobility and cannot move. The orcas then hit the whale's pelvic area with their snout, causing it to bleed, he added. The researchers also noted that one man, whom they identified as Moctezuma, was involved in three of the four such attacks. Orcas attack the ventral side of whale sharks because it is less protected. There is less muscle and cartilage in this area, allowing easy access to the aorta.
Whale shark attacks occurred between 2018 and 2024 in the Southern Gulf of California. They are recorded in photographs and recordings.
– Orcas has developed a strategy that relies on mutual cooperation. They are very intelligent animals. That shows how big a predator they are, Rivas concluded.
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