Post by : Rameen Ariff

A team of marine researchers has recorded an uncommon episode of orca predation on juvenile great white sharks in Mexican waters, providing new evidence of these apex predators' sophisticated hunting behaviour. The results, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, are the first confirmed observations of this conduct in Mexico.

Video gathered between 2020 and 2022 from drones and submerged cameras captures pods of orcas working together to roll young great whites onto their backs. The action triggers a temporary paralysis known as tonic immobility, allowing the whales to remove and share the sharks’ lipid-rich livers while often abandoning the remainder of the carcass.

While comparable attacks have been documented off South Africa, Australia and California, this marks the initial verified case in Mexican seas. Researchers note juveniles appear especially vulnerable, suggesting orcas may exploit seasonal opportunities that could influence local shark population dynamics.

Marine biologists say the finding expands understanding of orca behaviour and highlights complex predator–prey relationships in ocean ecosystems. Even dominant predators like great white sharks can be outmaneuvered by the social intelligence and coordinated techniques of orca pods.

The study adds to mounting evidence of orcas’ adaptable, strategic hunting methods across different environments, underscoring their role as versatile and effective marine hunters.

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