Orcas seen hunting ‘prickly’ species for the first time, study says. ‘Groundbreaking’
.jpg "Orcas have been observed eating a prickly shark for the first time, according to a new study.")
Orcas are known to eat a wide variety of marine creatures, including seals, squid, dolphins, rays and even seabirds. Now, a new species has been added to their menu.
For the first time, a group of killer whales has been documented preying upon a prickly shark, a rare deep-sea dweller, according to a study published on March 20 in the journal Frontiers in Fish Science.
The “groundbreaking observation” contributes to “the limited understanding of both Orca predatory ecology and the natural history of the Prickly Shark,” researchers said.
The novel behavior came to light amid a comprehensive review of prickly sharks, which are poorly understood by science. The slow-moving creatures, — distinguished by the thorn-like protrusions that cover their bodies — are found up to 3,600 feet below the surface of the ocean.
Researchers specifically focused on the Gulf of California, a biodiversity hotspot. They interviewed local anglers and experts between 2020 and 2024 to gain insight into the mysterious species and to determine how it has been impacted by industrial fishing.
Through this method, researchers obtained the “unprecedented” footage — captured with an underwater camera from a distance of about 50 feet — of orcas hunting down a lone prickly shark.
“The encounter lasted approximately 40 min, during which the pod of orcas employed tail slaps and strategic positioning, along with observed teamwork, to immobilize the shark,” researchers said.
Photos posted by researchers show an orca closely following the shark and ultimately capturing it and splitting it in half.
“The predation event provided a rare opportunity to observe the feeding behavior of orcas in a deep-sea environment and highlighted their adaptability and versatility as apex predators,” the study said.
Researchers concluded that orcas in the Gulf of Mexico may be preying on prickly sharks as a result of fishing activity, which has led to a dearth of top predators in the area.
An uptick in predation on prickly sharks “may in turn result in cascading trophic impacts on deep sea food webs,” the study said.
Future research can help better understand the complex role that the deep-sea sharks play in the ecosystem.
The study authors were Frida Lara-Lizardi, María Fernanda Gómez and Andrea Quintero-Perez.
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 6:54 AM with the headline "Orcas seen hunting ‘prickly’ species for the first time, study says. ‘Groundbreaking’."