A recent video from the Gulf of California shows orcas employing an unusual hunting technique. Three adult females, one male, and a juvenile were caught on camera teaming up to ram a sunfish so forcefully that it exploded into small fragments upon impact.

The technique, dubbed 'ram-to-fragment', is being described as a more sophisticated version of the orcas' usual three-pronged hunting strategy. First they target the pectoral fins, slash across the body to remove viscera, and finally use their beak for the remaining tissue. This new method might help younger orcas feed more easily, or it could just be play.

One of the adult females was seen holding a spine-tail devil ray before releasing its carcass into the path of an oncoming male orca. The collision caused an audible fragmentation that dispersed bits of flesh in the water. The juvenile quickly took to eating these smaller pieces while the adults feasted on the split-open body.

While orcas are known for cooperative hunting strategies, which can involve striking and killing prey—sometimes not just for food—the 'ram-to-fragment' technique could be a social interaction or practice as a mode of social learning. It's a reminder that these intelligent marine mammals might have their own unique forms of play and problem-solving.