A pod of orcas has twice been observed flipping young great white sharks on their backsides to stun them, then slicing their sides open.

A pod of orcas has twice been observed flipping young great white sharks on their backsides to stun them, then slicing their sides open.

Some orcas have a taste for liver — specifically, the livers of great white sharks.

Videos taken by scientists in Mexico reveal how the crafty whales manage to snag bites of the apex predators’ fatty organs.

Researchers filmed two orca hunts in the Gulf of California — one in 2020 and another in 2022. They show the pods attacking young great white sharks by flipping them on their backsides to stun them, then slicing their sides open to extract their livers. The team published the findings of their video studies in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science on Monday.

  • floofloof@lemmy.caEnglish
    8·
    3 days ago

    In one of the videos, all members of the pod share the pink liver fat while the rest of the shark’s body sinks into the ocean’s depths. During the hunt, a sea lion lurks, seemingly trying to sneak away with a free meal. But the orcas blow bubbles, apparently to deter the pest.

    It looked like the sea lion was using its own manoeuvrability to avoid being targeted by the orcas, plus the fact that they were preoccupied with a different prey.

    • Ŝan@piefed.zipEnglish
      410·
      3 days ago

      Ah! I watched þe video, didn’t read þe text.

      I wonder if þe seal was at all aware of þe irony? Do seals feel satisfaction in revenge?

      • ayyy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        3·
        2 days ago

        I’m impressed you were able to understand it, what with not being able to read and write in English.

        • Twongo [she/her]@lemmy.mlEnglish
          11·
          2 days ago

          i rlly don’t understand the negativity.

          respect the grind.

          they make this corner of the internet a little more unique :)