Orcas Are Kerploding Sunfish Into A Thousand Pieces

In many ways, the sunfish could not have been better-designed as an orca's chew toy.

The largest species, the oceanic sunfish Mola mola, can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 6,000 pounds.

And yet it is almost unfathomably helpless.

Its body resembles a serving platter.

It has no tail fin, just a tall dorsal and anal fin, which it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WCHMQ3rBLw&time_continue=8&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Faustralian.museum%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Faustralian.museum">flaps in unison to get around.

A sunfish often spends its time lounging on its side at the surface of the water, basking in the sun and allowing seabirds to nibble on the parasites that riddle its skin.

It has no venom or spines; its only real defense is somewhat thick skin.

It's not even a very good swimmer.

While a sunfish can reach top speeds of around two miles per hour, an orca can rocket through the water as fast as 35 mph.

So it's no surprise that such a large and lumbering fish might offer a wandering pack of orcas some welcome entertainment as they cruise in the clear waters off the Gulf of California.

Of course, what is amusing for an orca is terrifying for any non-orca witnesses.

Something that might make an orca click and whistle with glee will certainly make an adult woman go "Oh my god!

Oh my god!

Oh my god!

Holy shit!" Relatedly, please enjoy the video below.